LAKE NORMAN, NC (WBTV) -
The Iredell County Sheriff's Office is investigating a drug operation in the Lake Norman area.
Four people have been arrested, including a mother and her son. Investigators are still looking for a juvenile.
The investigation started about two months ago. Two Iredell County deputies were hurt on the job. A Lake Norman High School student ingested LSD, commonly known as "acid", and was combative.
Detectives started to investigate the source of the LSD. They sent undercover officers into the Lake Norman community, and with help from the Lake Norman High School Resource Officer, were able to identify several people considered to be key distributors of illegal drugs to high school students.
Undercover detectives were able to purchase LSD, heroin, marijuana, and a Schedule I bath salt being sold as "Molly".
The bath salt contained the chemical methylone, which can cause powerful hallucinations. Schedule I is the highest level of North Carolina's narcotics classification; Schedule I controlled substances have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Elliott James Ziegler, 24, was arrested and charged with two counts of Sell/Deliver Schedule I Controlled Substance, two counts of Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Schedule I Controlled Substance, Sell/Deliver Counterfeit Controlled Substance, Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Counterfeit Controlled Substance, and three counts of Trafficking Opium or Heroin. Ziegler is being held at the Iredell County Detention Center under a $75,000.00 secured bond.
Daniel Gilbert Brown, 19, was arrested and charged with Sell/Deliver Schedule I Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Schedule I Controlled Substance. Brown is being held at the Iredell County Detention Center under a $25,000.00 secured bond.
Thomas Jordan Wykoff, 19, was arrested and charged with Sell/Deliver Marijuana and Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Marijuana and is being held at the Iredell County Detention Center under a $5,000.00 secured bond.
Denise Lynne Mingle, 48, the mother of Elliott Ziegler, was arrested for Maintaining a Dwelling for Controlled Substance and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and is being held at the Iredell County Detention Center under a $15,000.00 secured bond.
Investigators are also looking for a juvenile believed to be the main source of LSD and "Molly" for students at Lake Norman High School. An undercover officer was able to purchase LSD from this juvenile.
The Iredell County Sheriff's Office said none of the undercover operations occurred on school property.
Further education on drug identification and prevention is planned for the staff at Lake Norman High School and other schools within Iredell County.
The investigation is ongoing and further arrests are anticipated.
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