FROM STAFF REPORTS

Two men face felony drug charges following a traffic stop by Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputies near Harmony.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Vestal Izaiah Martel, 20, of Todd and Weston Harold Wood, 20, of Boone in a news release.

Deputy C.S. Little, who is assigned to the ICSO Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team, stopped a Honda SUV on East Memorial Highway on Wednesday, September 23.

While speaking with the occupants, Martel and Wood, Little determined the driver did not have a valid driver’s license, according to the news release.

Based on this information and other evidence gathered at the scene, Little requested assistance, and Sgt. L.J. Hayes arrived to assist with a search of the vehicle.

During the search, deputies located a large box in the rear of the vehicle, Campbell said. The box contained 5.5 pounds of marijuana and 194 THC cartridges, according to the news release.

Both Martel and Wood were arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center.

Martel was charged with felony possession of marijuana, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, felony possession of THC oil, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver THC oil, felony maintain a vehicle for controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of marijuana paraphernalia. He appeared before a magistrate and received a $15,000 secured bond.

Wood was charged with felony possession of marijuana, felony possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana, felony possession of THC oil, felony possession with intent to sell/deliver THC oil and misdemeanor possession of marijuana paraphernalia. He received a $25,000 secured bond.