Sheriff Darren Campbell stated: On Saturday, April 25, 2020, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Detective Chris Lamberth, was off-duty at the Lowe’s Home Improvement store on River Hwy in Mooresville. Detective Lamberth witnessed an employee actively attempting to stop a man who was pushing a cart with electrical wire, and other items into the parking lot. The employee said the suspect did not pay for the items. Detective Lamberth intervened, and assisted the employee in stopping the man. Detective Lamberth recovered the stolen inventory without incident and returned it to the store.
Detective Lamberth recorded the vehicle information from the suspect’s vehicle before he fled the scene. Detective Lamberth contacted the Loss Prevention and Regional Asset Protection Teams with Lowe’s Home Improvement when he returned to work. Detective Lamberth learned from the manager of the Asset Protection Team, they were investigating numerous thefts involving the same suspect.
Detective Lamberth identified the suspect as Kody Ryan Wells of Denver, North Carolina. In addition, Lamberth identified Ryan Wade Yoder of Mooresville to be an accomplice of Wells.
Detective Lamberth opened an investigation into these suspect. Lamberth determined Wells and Yoder had committed numerous larcenies from several Lowe’s stores spanning a six- year period. The vehicle used in the thefts belongs to Jessica Nicole Hawkins of Mooresville. Hawkins allowed Wells and Yoder to use her black Ford Explorer to commit the larcenies.
Detective Lamberth attempted to make contact with Hawkins and Yoder at their residence, and observed numerous items consistent with the reported stolen property from Lowes, stored throughout the yard of the residence.
Based on the investigation, Detective Lamberth applied for and received search warrants for 116 and 118 Mayhew Park Lane in Mooresville. Detectives from the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division assisted in executing the search warrants and recovered over 8,000.00 dollars in stolen property belonging to Lowe’s Home Improvement.
Detective Lamberth obtained arrest warrants for Wells, Yoder, and Hawkins. All three suspect were arrested in Mecklenburg County on Thursday, May 7, 2020. Magistrate F. Wilson. Both Wells and Yoder appeared before Magistrate F. Wilson. Magistrate Wilson issued both individuals 5,000.00 dollars unsecured bonds. Hawkins appeared before Magistrate J. Watson who issued a 1,000.00 dollars unsecure bond for the crimes of Conspiracy to Commit Felony Larceny as well as Aiding and Abetting Felony Larceny.
Kody Ryan Wells, 35 Years Old
4822 Grassy Creek Road
Denver, North Carolina 28037
5,000.00 DOLLARS UNSECURED BOND.
Criminal history: Two Counts of Unsafe Movement.
Ryan Wade Yoder, 43 Years Old
116 Mayhew Park Lane
Mooresville, North Carolina 28115
5,000.00 DOLLARS UNSECURED BOND.
Criminal history: Two Counts of Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana, Misdemeanor Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds, Misdemeanor Drinking of Beer or Wine Under 21 Years Old, Felony Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Felony Obtaining Property by False Pretense, Misdemeanor First Degree Trespassing, Misdemeanor Resisting a Public Officer, Misdemeanor Second Degree Trespassing, Misdemeanor Shoplifting by Concealment of Goods.
Jessica Nicole Hawkins, 39 Years Old
116 Mayhew Park Lane
Mooresville, North Carolina 28115
1,000.00 DOLLARS UNSECURED BOND.
Criminal history: Felony Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance.