Sheriff Darren Campbell stated: The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office was asked for assistance in apprehending an escaped inmate in Alexander County in the early morning hours of Friday January 18, 2019. Iredell County Sheriff’s Office responded with manpower, canine teams and our drone.

Earlier in the evening the escaped inmate, Jason Todd Mullen, had been engaged in a short vehicle chase with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, and subsequently wrecked his vehicle. Mullen then fled into a wooded area in the area of Prichard Lane in Hiddenite.

A security perimeter was established in the area. Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Deputy J. Hodges, and bloodhound “Marley” were able to locate the suspect’s track. One of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office’s drones was utilized to provide cover for the tracking deputies as they worked the trail.

Deputy Hodges and “Marley” tracked to an abandoned mobile home where the suspect was located and apprehended.

The suspect, Jason Todd Mullen was taken to the Alexander County Law Enforcement Center where he was charged with Misdemeanor Escape and Felony Larceny of a Motor Vehicle. He received a 100,000.00 dollars secured bond on these charges.

Marley, a bloodhound was donated to the Sheriff’s Office by a citizen approximately a year ago. We sent Marley through training to be certified to locate suspects, missing persons and children. The drone utilized in assisting to locate this suspect was purchased with Federal Equity Sharing Money, also known as Drug Dealer Money, for use by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office. Through utilization of these tools, we were quickly able to apprehend this person and return him to jail.