FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Statesville man faces a weapons charge following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Keith Eugene Lackey Jr., 26, of Wilmington Avenue, Statesville, in a news release Thursday.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 11, Statesville police officers were involved in a vehicle pursuit, which they canceled near Amity Hill Road, Campbell said.

ICSO deputies were asked to be on the lookout for the vehicle.

A short time later, Deputy Kent spotted a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle description on N.C. Highway 150, according to the news release. The suspect vehicle had no operating rear lights.

Deputy Kent stopped the vehicle at East Plaza Drive at Norman Station Boulevard.

When deputies approached the SUV, they saw an AK-style pistol in plain sight in the back seat of the vehicle, Campbell said.

While searching a criminal history database, the deputies determined that Lackey, who was operating the vehicle, was a convicted felon, according to the news release.

Lackey. was taken into custody and brought to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was charged with Felony Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He also received charges from the Statesville Police Department. Magistrate Hollar issued a $100,000 secured bond on these charges.

According to the ICSO, Lackey’s criminal record includes the following charges: Reckless Driving to Endanger, Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana, Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Two Counts of Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill.