Sheriff: Two suspects face drug charges after traffic stop leads to seizure of crystal meth and fentanyl

Posted on by Mike Fuhrman

 

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Two suspects face charges after Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputies seized crystal methamphetamine and prescription drugs from a vehicle during a traffic stop on Saturday, February 20.

James Hairston III
Trisha Nelson

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Trisha Marie Nelson, 44, of Wilkesboro and James Lewis Hairston III, 27, of Moravian Falls in a news release on Tuesday.

Deputy C.S. Little, who is assigned to the ICSO Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team encountered the suspects after performing a traffic stop on a vehicle at the intersection of Salisbury Highway and Old Salisbury Road, according to the news release.

Hairston told deputies that his name was Jamal Hairston, which was later found to be false, Campbell said. Once his true identity was established, deputies learned Hairston had numerous outstanding warrants for his arrest, according to the news release.

While speaking with Nelson and Hairston, the deputies became suspicious that there were illegal narcotics inside the vehicle. Based upon further information, deputies searched the vehicle and located 14.4 grams of crystal methamphetamine, along with 45 dosage units of Alprazolam, a prescription drug, Campbell said.

Both suspect were arrested and taken to the Iredell County Detention Center.

After Nelson and Hairston were processed, detention officers became suspicious that Nelson had additional narcotics concealed inside of her body, according to the news release.

Nelson was then transported to a local hospital, where medical staff removed from approximately 3.8 grams of fentanyl from Nelson’s body, Campbell said. After the substance was removed, Nelson unsuccessfully attempted to destroy the fentanyl, according to the news release.

Nelson was each charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, felony maintain a vehicle for the sale or use of a controlled substance, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule IV controlled substance (Alprazolam), misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule I controlled substance (fentanyl), felony possession of a controlled substance in a jail, felony alter/steal/destroy criminal evidence, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and misdemeanor resist a public officer. Magistrate Nicholson issued a $15,000 secured bond on these charges.

Hairston was charged with felony possession with intent to sell and/or deliver methamphetamine, misdemeanor resisting public officer, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Magistrate Nicholson issued a $10,000 secured bond on the drug charges with an additional $140,000 secured bond on the failure to appear and other outstanding warrants for his arrest.