FROM STAFF REPORS

A convicted rapist who has spent nearly half of his life in prison is behind bars again in Iredell County on charges he failed to comply with North Carolina’s sex offender registration requirements. 

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Ross Allen Berryman, 73, of no fixed address in a news release Thursday.

ICSO Sex Offender Compliance Detective B. Padgett has been searching Berryman, who has active warrants for failing to register his address change, Campbell said.

After Detective Padgett received a tip that Berryman might be hiding at an abandoned house on South Meeting Street in Statesville, he went to that locating and spotted Berryman through a window of the home, according to the news release.

The detective instructed Berryman to come to the front door. A few minutes later he heard a loud noise and then saw Berryman fleeing through the woods, Campbell said.

During the ensuing foot pursuit, Detective Padgett deployed his taser and then took Berryman into custody, according to the news release.

Iredell County EMS personnel were called to the scene to check Berryman for any injures related to the taser deployment.

Berryman was then transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where Magistrate Calleja issued a combined $100,000 secured bond for the outstanding warrants and a new charge of misdemeanor resist, obstruct and delay an officer.

Due to additional medical concerns, Detective Padgett transported Berryman to Iredell Memorial Hospital for further evaluation. After receiving medical clearance Berryman was returned to the Detention Center.

According to the ICSO, Berryman’s criminal record includes the following charges: second-degree rape, first-degree burglary, robbery with a firearm, felony sex offender on child premises.

Berryman was sentenced to 40 years in prison on the rape charge in 1984. After serving 16 years on that charge, he served 16 additional years in prison on the burglary charge. He served four years in prison on the robbery charge, from 1973 to 1977.