FROM STAFF REPORTS

A suspect faces a half dozen felony charges in connection with the theft of jewelry and firearms from a home in western Iredell County.

The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office began investigating on February 17 after receiving a report that approximately $10,000 worth of jewelry and guns had been stolen from a home in the Troutman area.

The case was assigned to Detective Sergeant D.S. Hall of the Criminal Investigations Division for further investigation. Detective Sergeant Hall quickly learned that Damian Santibanez Jr., a former roommate of the victim, had taken several of the stolen items to various pawn shops in surrounding counties to be pawned, according to an ICSO news release.

Most of the stolen items were recovered.

As a result of the investigation, arrest warrants were obtained for Santibanez, 24, of Big Forest Drive, Statesville, for two counts of Felony Larceny and four counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense.

On Sunday, February 26, deputies located Santibanez in the area of his residence. He was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit, according to the news release.

Sanitbanez was transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where Magistrate Russell issued a $65,000 secured bond on the warrants. Santibanez was also charged with misdemeanor Resisting a Public Officer. He was given an additional $2,500 secured bond on that charge.