FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Statesville man faces felony drug and gun charges as the result of an Iredell County Sheriff’s Office investigation into drug sales at a local motel.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Akira Chauncey Linney, 22, of Reid Street, Statesville, in a news release Monday.

On Thursday, July 30, ICSO narcotics detectives and deputies assigned to the Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team were conducting an investigation at the Motel 7 on Greenland Drive after receiving complaints of narcotic sales going on in one of the rooms, Campbell said.

While speaking with Linney, who was the occupant of the room in question, deputies noticed evidence of controlled substances inside the room, according to the news release.

The deputies then searched the room and located several individual bags of marijuana packaged for sale, along with drug paraphernalia commonly used for narcotics sales and distribution, Campbell said.

Deputies also found Linney to be in possession of a firearm that was reported from Statesville, according to the news release.

Linney was arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was charged with felony possession of a stolen firearm, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Magistrate Chambers issued a $10,000 secured bond on these charges.