FROM STAFF REPORTS

A wanted parole absconder and three other suspects face charges related to a pair of residential break-ins following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

On Wednesday, May 26, ICSO patrol deputies responded to a call in the 700 block of Bell Farm Road near east Statesville after receiving a report of a breaking and entering of a residence, Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a news release.

While the deputies were on scene, information was received about another residential break-in on Shiloh Road off of Highway 70 East, Campbell said. Investigators with the Criminal Investigations Division, along with crime scene investigators, responded to assist at both the crime scenes.

Investigators located witnesses who identified Nicholas Dale Johnson, 28, of North Bost Street in Statesville as the suspect in these crimes, according to the news release.

Additional information was gathered indicating that Johnson along with his mother, Kimberly Gayle Matheson, and Laura Ann Burchette had gone to the Walmart in Mooresville and used stolen credit cards from one of the crime scenes to purchase several items, Campbell said.

Investigators responded to the store and video surveillance, which showed three suspects leaving the store in a grey Kia K5 registered to James Steven Haithcox, 68, of Hugo Lane in Statesville, according to the news release.

ICSO patrol immediately responded to Hugo Lane in an attempt to locate the suspects and the vehicle.

Once the deputies arrived, they observed the suspect Kia in the front yard with a large television sticking out of the trunk, Campbell said. The deputies then surrounded the house and attempted to get someone to come to the door, but no one did, according to the news release.

Due to the number of outstanding arrest warrants and Johnson’s previous assertions that he would never go back to jail, along with the fact he had reportedly stolen several firearms recently, the ICSO SERT Team was activated to assist in apprehending Johnson, Campbell said.

When SERT Team members arrived, along with the ICSO Bearcat, SERT Team members surrounded the home and began ordering those in the home to come out, according to the news release.

After several attempts were made to call the individuals in the home to come out, Haithcox, Matheson and Burchette exited from the front of the residence, where they were taken into custody by deputies, Campbell said.

When the suspects were questioned about Johnson’s whereabouts, they confirmed he was still inside the residence and refused to come out, the sheriff said.

After several hours of trying unsuccessfully to communicate with Johnson, ICSO personnel obtained a Search Warrant, enabling deputies to make a forced entry into the home.

After multiple warnings were given over a loud speaker, gas was deployed in to the residence, and SERT Team members entered the home and searched for Johnson, Campbell said.

After searching the main portion of the residence, deputies used a thermal-imaging camera to locate Johnson, who was hiding in the attic, according to the news release.

Johnson was then confronted and taken into custody without any further incident, the sheriff said. He was transported to Iredell Memorial Hospital, where he was medically checked before being taken to the Iredell County Detention Center.

Johnson was charged with two counts of felony breaking and entering, felony larceny after breaking and entering, and misdemeanor resisting a public officer. He was served with several outstanding felony arrest warrants for felony breaking and entering and larceny. Magistrate Hollar issued a $610,000 secured bond on all charges.

He is currently on probation for felony breaking or entering, felony larceny, felony obtain property by false pretense. He was entered as a Wanted Absconder by N.C. Probation.

Matheson, 48, of North Bost Street, Statesville, was charged with two counts of felony breaking and entering, two counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering, and felony possession of stolen property. Matheson also appeared before Magistrate Hollar, who issued a $ 20,000 secured bond on these charges.

Burchette, 33 of BJ Drive, Conover, was charged with: Two Counts of Felony Breaking and Entering, Two Counts of Felony Larceny after Breaking and Entering, and Felony Possession of Stolen Property. Magistrate J. Hollar issued Burchette a $15,000 secured bond on these charges.

Haithcox was charged with misdemeanor harboring/ aiding certain persons. Hollar issued a $5,000 secured bond on this charge.