3 arrested in Mooresville black tar heroin case

A Charlotte woman and a homeless man are accused of selling black tar heroin on N.C. 150 near Interstate 77 in Mooresville.

Iredell County sheriff’s investigators said they made undercover buys of the drug and this week arrested and charged:

▪ Kristen Irene Zalewski, 21, of Charlotte, with felony possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, sell and deliver heroin and conspiracy to sell and deliver heroin. Zalewski also had an outstanding warrant from Mecklenburg County on a charge of misdemeanor possession of stolen goods. She was jailed on $25,500 bail.

▪ Matthew Settle Carpenter, 25, with possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, conspiracy to sell and deliver heroin, maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place to sell and deliver heroin, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was jailed on $30,000 bail. Investigators say he is homeless.

▪ Michael Lee Lubbers, 25, of Charlotte, was charged with felony possession of heroin and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Lubbers also had outstanding warrants from the Mooresville Police Department on charges of felony breaking and entering and felony larceny. He was jailed on $35,000 bail.

Investigators said they found numerous items in one suspect’s vehicle with price tags and store anti-theft devices on them.

“These are the types of people who will break into your homes and businesses to steal items they can sell or pawn,” Sheriff Darren Campbell said. “They then turn around and buy enough drugs to use and sell to get more money to buy drugs.”

Joe Marusak

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 11:50 AM with the headline "3 arrested in Mooresville black tar heroin case."