Man arrested after stolen vehicle from Durham found in Iredell County

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — A tip about a suspicious car led to a stolen vehicle being found, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

On Friday, September 27, a deputy responded to a suspicious person and vehicle reported on a Newton Drive property, just outside of Statesville.

The deputy found the vehicle, but the driver had already fled, officials say. After running the VIN and license plate, the vehicle popped up as stolen from a Durham car dealership dealer earlier in the day.

Several law enforcement agencies set up a perimeter and searched for the driver, Jesse Mukongo Ridge, 24, of Clayton, who was arrested.

Ridge is charged with Felony Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle and is being held without bonds since he was already out on bond for other charges. Durham Police also charged Ridge with Felony Larceny of a Motor Vehicle.

The ICSO Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Team, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, ICSO Sergeant Hodges with Canine Levia and the ICSO Drone were all part of the search.

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