FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Charlotte man faces drug and weapons charges after being apprehended by Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputies following a pursuit on Interstate 77.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Oseas Ivan Munoz, 31, in a news release on Friday morning.

On Thursday deputies assigned to the ICSO Interstate Criminal Enforcement Team attempted to stop a 2011 GMC Yukon on I-77 in the area of the mile marker 62 for traffic violations, Campbell said.

The driver refused to stop and fled northbound on I-77 before exiting on East Memorial Highway in Union Grove, according to the news release. Deputies continued to pursue the vehicle, which eventually crashed into the woods off Jericho Road, Campbell said.

Deputies took Munoz, who was driving the SUV, into custody without incident.

A search of the vehicle located nearly five pounds or 2,142.88 grams of MDMA (Ecstasy) pills as well as a firearm, marijuana, and $3,215 in cash, according to the news release.

There were approximately 8,000 MDMA pills that were disguised as candy in various shapes and colors, Campbell said. The street value of the seized pills is over $267,860.

Munoz is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Deputies also learned that Munoz was wanted in South Carolina for a charge of felony selling a controlled substance.

Munoz was arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was charged with felony trafficking in MDMA by possession, felony trafficking in MDMA by transportation, felony possession with intent to sell/deliver MDMA, felony possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, felony flee to elude, felony maintaining a vehicle for controlled substance, felony possession of a firearm by felon, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Magistrate Reba Imes set an $850,000 secured bond for these charges.

According to the ICSO, the suspect’s previous convictions include misdemeanor assault with intent to kill, felony attempted murder, and felony possession of a weapon during a violent crime.