MOORESVILLE — A Mooresville man has been charged with possession of psychedelic mushrooms, marijuana and hashish after an investigation following a traffic stop.

On Feb. 25, Iredell County sheriff’s Deputy C.S. Little spotted a suspicious vehicle traveling on Faith Road near Mooresville. While following the vehicle, Little could smell the odor of burnt marijuana but was unsure where it was coming from, a report said.

Little also reported that the driver of the vehicle was being overly cautious and seemed to be lost. When the vehicle turned into a driveway on Shears Road, Little continued north.

About five minutes later, the same vehicle was spotted by Deputy J. Buzard heading south. Buzard followed the vehicle, whose driver failed to signal at a turn, used the turn signal after turning and then turned it off again. The driver was traveling below the posted speed limit.

Buzard stopped the vehicle, suspecting that the driver was impaired.

Buzard issued the driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Markeith Kane Phifer of the 100 block of Nahcotta Drive, a warning citation.

Little got Phifer’s consent to search the vehicle. Little found a loaded handgun and drug paraphernalia.

Phifer was charged with misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia as well as misdemeanor simple possession of marijuana, misdemeanor possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor resisting an officer, and misdemeanor driving while license revoked.

Phifer was issued a $3,000 secured bond.

While processing the arrest paperwork, Deputy Little learned that Phifer was a convicted felon and began an additional investigation. On Feb. 28, Little obtained an arrest warrant for Phifer on a charge of felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Phifer also was charged with felony possession of “psychedelic mushrooms;” felony maintaining a vehicle for use of a controlled substance; felony possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana; felony possession with intent to sell and deliver hashish; felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon; misdemeanor aggravated possession of marijuana; misdemeanor simple possession of marijuana; two counts of misdemeanor possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia; two counts of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia; misdemeanor resisting an officer; and misdemeanor driving while license revoked.

Deputies Little and Buzard along with Deputy E.A. Johnson tried to serve the warrant at several locations before finding Phifer in a vehicle in the 100 block of  Mills Valley Drive near Mooresville.

As the deputies approached the vehicle, they could see a large quantity of marijuana, some THC wax or “hashish,” psychedelic mushrooms, cash and several items of drug paraphernalia, according to the deputies’ report.

Phifer was processed at the Iredell County Detention Center under a $60,000 secured bond.