James Ray Bost, age 58, was arrested by detectives with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division on May 5 following a months-long investigation into several reports of vehicles being shot with a pellet gun in the 1000 block of Perth Road near Troutman.
The case drew attention due to repeated incidents reported by motorists since February. Authorities say these events led to concerns about public safety and property damage in the area.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies began receiving reports earlier this year from drivers who said their vehicles had been struck by pellets while traveling along Perth Road. Detectives interviewed residents and used digital surveillance equipment as part of their efforts. The investigation identified James Bost as a suspect after gathering information from community members and conducting extensive surveillance operations.
A new incident reported on May 2 prompted further review of surveillance footage, which detectives say showed that shots were fired from Bost’s driveway at 1022 Perth Road. This evidence led investigators to obtain arrest warrants for Bost and a search warrant for his residence. During the search, authorities recovered a BB rifle, other weapons capable of firing BBs or pellets, and numerous pellets.
Bost faces eight counts each of felony assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor injury to personal property. He appeared before Magistrate T. Thompson, who issued a $50,000 secured bond for these charges.
Sheriff Darren Campbell said, “The detectives involved in this case put in a lot of hard work and time to conduct surveillance and utilized the surveillance tools necessary to obtain enough evidence to bring justice to those who had been victimized by Bost. I also want to thank the residents and community members who remained vigilant and continued to communicate with law enforcement throughout this investigation. Their cooperation and willingness to report information played an important role in helping us bring this case to a close.”
Detectives are continuing their review into whether Bost may be responsible for additional cases related to similar incidents. The sheriff’s office encourages anyone with more information about these events or related matters along Perth Road or nearby areas to contact them directly.