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Man arrested on drug charges in undercover investigation

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Deputies in Iredell County have seized more than a million dollars' worth of crack cocaine from a liquor house in Statesville.

Iredell deputies said they found cases of beer, moonshine, and thousands of dollars' worth of cash and drugs in an SUV parked outside what they're calling a liquor house on Williams Road in south Statesville.

"During this case we were able to uncover a supply line from Atlanta all the way up to Statesville," said Maj. Darren Campbell, with the Iredell County Sheriff's office

It was all part of an undercover investigation that began this summer where deputies confiscated more than a million dollars' worth of crack cocaine.

Michael Stevenson is jail under a $100,000 bond. Deputies arrested Thomas Daye and James Smith on Tuesday. David Powell was arrested earlier this summer as part of the investigation.

Deputies were able to arrest Stevenson through one of their undercover buys. They said he thought was going to meet a buyer in a van. When the van pulled up, five officers jumped out and arrested him. Deputies said they were tipped off by neighbors.

Managers at a day care just up road from the house were relieved to hear about the arrests. They said drug activity like this is one of the reasons why their neighborhood has a bad reputation.

"It really makes me feel more comfortable and I'm sure the staff as well," said Delois Winford.

Deputies said the liquor house has been a dwelling place for crime in south Statesville for the past year.

With warrants out for Smith and Daye's arrests, officers will be keeping an extra eye on the area to make sure they don't show up here again and are caught soon.

"By dismantling this group, it will have a huge impact on the drug distribution in that neighborhood," Campbell said.