Two Hillsborough residents arrested on drug charges after traffic stop

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. – The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two Hillsborough individuals at a traffic stop on I-40.

Iredell County Sheriff’s Officers conducted a traffic stop on I-40 after determining that a vehicle had an expired and fictitious registration. 34-year-old Casey Ellis was unable to provide her driver’s license during the stop.

The deputy on scene conducted further investigation where his K-9 partner was able to indicate that narcotics were present. A subsequent search resulted in the recovery of concealed fentanyl inside of a bottle and multiple hidden items of drug paraphernalia throughout the car.

Casey Ellis was charged with felony possession of fentanyl, felony maintaining vehicle for controlled substances, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor driving while license revoked and misdemeanor displaying an expired/fictitious registration plate. Ellis was issued no bond.

The passenger, 29-year-old Jose Perez, was charged with felony possession of fentanyl and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Perez was issued $5,000 secured bond.

Both suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center.