FROM STAFF REPORTS
A northern Iredell County resident and a juvenile face numerous charges in connection with the theft of two vehicles as well as charges related to several car break-ins.
Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Steven Michael Potts, 18, of Kammerer Drive in a news release. A juvenile has also been implicated in the crimes, Campbell added.
ICSO deputies responded to a residence in the Troutman area in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 2, after receiving a report that a vehicle had been stolen from the caller’s driveway, according to the news release.
Deputies gathered information about the stolen car and immediately began searching the area. A short time later, deputies observed the stolen vehicle being driven through downtown Statesville, Campbell said.
When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver refused to pull over and led deputies on a short vehicle pursuit, according to the news release.
The driver crashed the vehicle and fled the scene on foot, avoiding apprehension by deputies, Campbell said.
Later that day ICSO personnel received additional reports about several car break-ins in northern Iredell County and in the Troutman area as well as a report that a second vehicle had been stolen from a residence in northern Iredell County, according to the news release.
These cases were assigned to ICSO criminal investigators, who conducted several interviews and examined the evidence recovered from the stolen car. They identified a 15-year-old male as the suspect who had been driving the stolen car and breaking into the vehicles throughout the night, Campbell said.
Potts was identified as the second suspect in the case. Detectives determined Potts had assisted the juvenile with the car break-ins and had stolen the second vehicle, the sheriff said.
Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Potts, and he was taken into custody on Thursday, June 6. After conducting interviews with both suspects, detectives recovered the second stolen vehicle in northern Iredell County.
Potts was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was charged with two counts of felony Larceny of Motor Vehicle; seven counts of felony Breaking or Entering a Motor Vehicle; misdemeanor Attempt to Breaking or Entering a Motor Vehicle; misdemeanor Resist, Delay, or Obstruct a Law Enforcement Officer; misdemeanor Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor; and misdemeanor No Operators License.
Potts is being held at the Iredell County Detention Center under a $55,000 secured bond issued by District Court Judge Knox.
ICSO detectives are also filing charges against the 15-year-old male suspect through the Department of Juvenile Justice, including two counts of felony Larceny of Motor Vehicle; seven counts of felony Breaking or Entering a Motor Vehicle; felony Fleeing to Elude Arrest; felony Larceny of Firearm; misdemeanor Attempt Breaking or Entering of a Motor Vehicle; and numerous traffic offenses.
This investigation is still ongoing and further charges may be pending, Campbell said.