On August 12, 2025, Deputy W. Wiedenmann of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Team conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling north on Interstate 77 for a traffic violation.
The driver was identified as 27-year-old Peyton Seth Shortridge of Harmony. Sergeant Hodges arrived to assist, accompanied by Canine Levi, who alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. A subsequent search uncovered approximately 44 grams of methamphetamine, an amount classified as drug trafficking.
Shortridge was arrested and charged. Magistrate Thompson ordered no bond, keeping him in custody while awaiting trial. Investigators determined the methamphetamine was being transported from Charlotte into Iredell County.
Sheriff Darren Campbell credited the quick action of the ACE Team and Canine Unit with preventing the drugs from reaching the community, noting their work plays a vital role in public safety by removing illegal substances and those involved in their distribution from local streets.
