A 29-year-old woman from Statesville, identified as Arlena Ann Ritchie, has been arrested by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office on drug-related charges. Ritchie, who is listed as homeless, faces one felony count of possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
The arrest took place on March 6 after a deputy conducted a traffic stop at the Market Basket store on Taylorsville Highway for a fictitious registration plate violation. The driver of the vehicle was issued a citation, while Ritchie, a passenger in the vehicle, drew the deputy’s attention due to what was described as suspicious behavior.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of individually packaged plastic bags containing approximately 7.2 grams of methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia. According to authorities, Ritchie admitted ownership of the items, which were found in the passenger area of the vehicle.
Following her arrest, Ritchie was booked into the Iredell County Detention Center under a $7,500 secured bond. She is scheduled to appear in District Court on March 25.
Court records indicate that Ritchie has a prior criminal history, including felony convictions for conspiracy and child neglect resulting in serious physical injury, as well as misdemeanor offenses such as larceny, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is currently on probation for felony conspiracy.
