FROM STAFF REPORTS
Two men faces charges in connection with several motor vehicle and residential break-ins in the Mooresville area following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Cody Lee Choate, 21, and Clayton Morrison Broyhill, 21, in a news release Monday.
The ICSO began investigating on Saturday, March 21, after patrol deputies were dispatched to the area of Teeter Road and Linwood Road in reference to several break-ins, Campbell said.
After arriving on the scene, the deputies reviewed surveillance camera footage from one of the victims’ residences. The video showed the suspects fleeing the scene in a vehicle, which was described by a witness as a red passenger car, according to the news release.
After deputies interviewed several witnesses, Choate was developed as a suspect, the sheriff said.
While deputies attempted to locate Choate throughout the day, they received numerous reports of breaking and entering to motor vehicles and homes in the area with several items stolen, including a firearm, Scuba equipment, and a camera, according to the news release.
Information about the suspect vehicle and Choate was sent to Mooresville Police Department.
Later on Saturday, MPD officers were called to a home in the Cherry Grove subdivision. While officers were responding to this call, they located Broyhill in a red Ford Focus parked on the side of the roadway, Campbell said.
While law enforcement was investigating this incident, a firearm that was reported stolen from a car earlier in the day was located, according to the news release.
ICSO detectives obtained arrest warrants for Choate and Broyhill.
Broyhill was charged with Felony First-Degree Burglary, Felony Break or Enter Motor Vehicle, Felony Larceny of a Firearm, and Felony Larceny after Breaking and Entering. Magistrate Imes issued a $75,000 secured bond on these charges.
Broyhill is a verified member of the Folk Nation Gang, according to the N.C. Department of Adult Corrections.
ICSO deputies and detectives located Choate at his home off Brumley Road near Mooresville. Before the deputies could make entry into the home, Choate grabbed a butcher knife from the kitchen sink and then barricaded himself inside the residence with his grandmother and uncle, Campbell said.
Deputies talked Choate into putting the knife down and he came out of the residence. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Choate was then transported to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, where he appeared before Magistrate Watkins who issued a $75,000 bond on these charges.
Detectives subseqeuntly obtained a search warrant for Choate’s residence. Once inside the home, they recovered numerous pieces of evidence worth approximately $13,000 inside his bedroom, according to the news release.
Deputies also located marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia inside of the residence, Campbell said. And one of the vehicles in the driveway was stolen from a residence in the area of Wiggins Road in Mooresville, according to the news release.
Choate was released from the N.C. Department of Adult Corrections on March 2.