It was not a quiet Saturday night near the Waffle House in Statesville. On May 11, police say a traffic stop by the department’s Crime Reduction Team turned into a drug investigation that stretched from East Garner Bagnal Boulevard to a nearby motel and ended with three people in handcuffs.
According to the Statesville Police Department, the stop occurred near the Waffle House on E. Garner Bagnal Boulevard and continued at the Motel 7 on Greenland Drive. During a subsequent foot pursuit, officers say they recovered a plastic bag containing more than 74 grams of suspected cocaine. The department reports that three people were taken into custody as the investigation unfolded around the motel.
In a Facebook post, the Statesville Police Department identified the suspects as 41-year-old Shelby Darrell Fraley, 45-year-old Deleon Carshar Dalton and 63-year-old Darlene Sherrill Campbell. Investigators say Fraley discarded the bag containing the suspected cocaine during the chase, and he was later apprehended. According to the post, Fraley was charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The department’s summary states that Dalton had outstanding felony warrants for sale of marijuana and crack cocaine and was given a $50,000 secured bond. Campbell, police say, was charged with possession of crack cocaine and paraphernalia and was issued a $500,000 secured bond.
Local enforcement context
Statesville police say the arrests stem from a targeted response to drug complaints in the Motel 7 area, highlighting ongoing work by the Crime Reduction Team and narcotics detectives. Similar efforts have played out across the city in recent years. In a 2024 “street sweep,” officers teamed up with other agencies to make multiple drug-related arrests, according to WCCB.
Possible penalties
Under North Carolina law, the amount of cocaine matters a lot. State statute defines trafficking in cocaine at 28 grams or more and classifies possession of 28 to 199 grams as a Class G felony. That range carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 months in prison and a fine of at least $50,000, with penalties increasing at higher quantities, according to the North Carolina General Statutes.
The charges and bond amounts listed by police suggest prosecutors may pursue trafficking-related counts, but the department did not include court filings or court dates in its public statement. For photos and the department’s original summary, see the Statesville Police Department on Facebook.
