News (1199)
34-year-old Elizabeth Michelle Settlemyre of Lanes Road in Vale was arrested Monday (April 22) by Catawba County Sheriff's Officers. She's charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to appear on a count of possession of schedule II controlled substance. Settlemyre was incarcerated in the Catawba County Detention Facility under $29,000 bond. District Court appearances are scheduled for Thursday (April 25) and next Monday (April 29).
Meth Trafficking Among Charges Filed Against Sherrills Ford Man
Written by Rob Eastwood
41-year-old Lowell Thomas Messer of Sherrills Ford Road in Sherrills Ford was arrested Monday (April 22) by Catawba County Sheriff's Officers. He's charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession of schedule II controlled substance, and shoplifting. Messer was detained in the Catawba County Detention Facility under $41,000 bond. A Superior Court appearance was scheduled today (April 23), District Court appearances are scheduled for April 29 and May 20.
Claremont Resident Charged With Fleeing From Police
Written by Rob Eastwood
19-year-old Johnathon Tyler Queen of Hall Dairy Road in Claremont was arrested by Newton Police Officers. He's charged with flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, no operators license, expired or no inspection, fail to burn taillight on a motorcycle, and a registration plate violation. Queen was placed in the Catawba County Detention Facility this morning (April 23) under $3,000 bond. A District Court date was scheduled today.
Guilty Plea Entered In Kidnapping Case, 12-16 Year Sentence Imposed
Written by Rob Eastwood
33-year-old Zachary Scott Watson of Connelly Springs, pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree kidnapping, possession of firearm by convicted felon, and admitted his status as a habitual felon during Caldwell County Superior Court last Monday (April 15).
The Honorable Eric C. Morgan, Superior Court Judge from Forsyth County, sentenced Watson to an active prison term of 12 to 16 years that will be served in the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections. Watson’s sentenced was enhanced by his criminal record and habitual felon status.
Lenoir Police received a report on August 30, 2017, that a pregnant woman and her daughter had been kidnapped by Watson. Watson and the woman had a prior romantic relationship. Upon investigation, police discovered that Watson had tracked down the victim’s Toyota Tundra and approached it at gunpoint. While trying to flee, Watson then jumped into the bed of the victim’s vehicle, busted through the back windshield, and took control of the truck.
An Amber Alert was issued describing the Toyota Tundra. Using phone records, law enforcement was able to quickly locate the Toyota Tundra in Mocksville with the assistance from the Mocksville Police Department. Both victims were found unharmed and the defendant was apprehended shortly thereafter.
Lt. Mark Barlow led the investigation for the Lenoir Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Nancy Lee prosecuted the case for the State.
Hickory Man Charged with Failure to Appear on Felony
Written by Ralph Mangum
36-year-old Johnny Tyrone Banks of 2nd Street Court S.W. in Hickory was arrested by Hickory Police Thursday (April 18) for failure to appear in connection to a felony habitual larceny charge. That charge came following an August 2018 larceny at a convenience store on Highway 70 S.E. in Hickory.
Banks was taken into custody last Thursday without incident at his residence and placed in the Catawba Co. Detention Facility under a $7,500 bond. A District Court appearance was set for April 30 in Newton.
27-year-old Alesia Paulette Killian-Hall of 1st Avenue S.E. in Hickory was arrested Thursday (April 18) by Hickory Police Officers on one felony count of possession of a schedule IV controlled substance. She’s also charged with one misdemeanor count of possession of a schedule II controlled substance.
Officers responded in reference to a narcotics call from a church on Catawba Valley Boulevard S.E. in Hickory. There, Officers found Killian-Hall to be in possession of three dosage units of Oxycodone and 1.5 dosage units of Alprazolam. She was taken into custody without incident at the church.
Killian-Hall was jailed in the Catawba Co. Detention Facility under a $5,000 bond. A District Court appearance was scheduled for April 29 in Newton.
Statesville Man Arrested in Hickory on Felony Warrant
Written by Ralph Mangum
42-year-old Nigel Eugene Terry of Fieldcrest Drive in Statesville was arrested by Hickory Police at about 8:30 Friday evening (April 19) on two orders for arrest; one felony and one misdemeanor. Terry was taken into custody without incident at the intersection of Springs Road N.E. and 26th Avenue Place N.E. in Hickory. He was processed at the Hickory Police Department and then released to a bail bondsman after posting a $15,000 bond. An appearance in District Court was set for April 23 in Newton.
23-year-old Richard Tyler McKinney of Morningside Lane in Lenoir was arrested yesterday (April 21) by Caldwell County Sheriff’s Officers one felony fleeing to elude arrest. McKinney was placed in the Caldwell County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond. A Superior Court appearance was scheduled for June 3.
National Weather Service Confirms Friday Tornadoes In Region
Written by Rob Eastwood
The National Weather Service confirmed over the weekend that two tornadoes touched down in the region during Friday afternoon's (April 19) severe weather. According to published reports, the agency says the first touched down in Gaston County and traveled into Lincoln County, while the second was recorded in Alexander County. No injuries were reported in either of the two tornadoes.
Reports say what was classified as a weak tornado started in northwest Gaston County at approximately 3:30 p.m. Friday and moved northeast into the Lincolnton area. Officials confirmed a second tornado touched down in Alexander County around 4:10 p.m. near Hiddenite. The Alexander County tornado had maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour and traveled approximately half a mile.
Juvenile Facing Arson Charge In Connection To Fire Set At School
Written by Rob Eastwood
A juvenile is facing an arson charge in a case in which a fire was set at an Iredell County school. Last Wednesday (April 17) at approximately 1:15 p.m., Iredell County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers at Lake Norman High School were alerted by school administration to respond to a fire on the second story 400 Hallway boy’s bathroom.
When a deputy arrived in the area of the fire he discovered the hallway filling with smoke. The fire department was called to the school, which is on Doolie Road in Mooresville. The fire was contained to a trashcan in the bathroom and no injuries were reported.
Due to the smoke activating fire alarms throughout the school, the students and staff were immediately evacuated. Additional Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Patrol units arrived on the scene to assist with the evacuation process, and to assist in the investigation.
Because the incident was caught on video by a juvenile student, and posted to his “Snapchat” social network, the video immediately became viral. Investigators quickly identified the suspect who set the fire, and the person who taped the incident. The suspect is 14-years-old.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office forwarded their investigation findings to Juvenile Services due to the suspect's age. The student, who has been suspended from Lake Norman High School, faces a felony arson charge.
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Projects In Burke, Iredell Counties Awarded Grants As Part Of Dept. Of Commerce Allocations
Written by Rob Eastwood
According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) approved 17 grant requests to local governments totaling $7,068,625. The requests include commitments to create a total of 869 jobs, 623 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $96.8 million in private investment.
The Department of Commerce’s team of rural economic development professionals supports the RIA’s work. RIA members review and approve funding requests from local communities. Funding comes from a variety of specialized grant and loan programs offered and managed by N.C. Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division. Grants can support a variety of activities, including infrastructure development, building renovation, expansion and demolition, and site improvements.
The RIA approved 11 grants under the state’s Building Reuse Program in two categories, the Vacant Building Category and the Existing Building Category. In this region there are two projects listed under the Existing Building Category. In Burke County, a $312,000 grant will support the expansion of a building in Hildebran occupied by Marves Industries, a manufacturer of non-woven fabrics, acoustical materials, felt and composite materials. The company plans to add 10,000 square feet to the facility, while creating 25 jobs and investing $1,865,315 in this project.
In the City of Statesville, A $300,000 grant will support the renovation of a 343,184-square-foot building occupied by Badger Sportswear, a provider of team uniforms and performance athletic wear. The company plans to create 82 jobs and invest $3,693,802 in this project, which consolidates its operations from two other states into the Statesville facility.
Lincolnton Resident Reported Missing Has Been Found And Is Safe
Written by Rob Eastwood
A 19-year-old Lincoln County resident who had been reported missing has been located and is safe. Last Thursday (April 18) the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office contacted the foster parent who said that Noah Andrew Ayers of Lincolnton had been located and is safe.
Last Wednesday (April 17), the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing person. Noah Andrew Ayers was last seen leaving his residence around 2:00 p.m. in an unknown vehicle with unknown occupants. Ayers was possibly on his way to a baseball game at North Lincoln High School.
Shooting Incident In Conover Reportedly Under Investigation
Written by Rob Eastwood
According to published reports, one person was injured in a shooting incident in Conover Friday morning (April 19). As of Sunday morning (April 21), the suspect was still being sought. The published reports say that, according to Conover Police, the shooter was driving a black Chevrolet SUV that has front-end damage.
Information regarding the extent of the victim's injuries had not been released. According to the reports, officers with the Conover Police Department and Catawba County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the shooting. The reports say that two possible crime scenes were the focus of the investigation. One is on Second Street SW. The other possible scene is the corner of Second Street SW and Sixth Avenue Drive SW.
Burke County Man Charged With Possessing Stolen Vehicle
Written by Rob Eastwood
48-year-old James Thomas Caviness of Dysartsville Road in Morganton was arrested Friday (April 19) by Long View Police Officers. He's charged with felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Caviness was jailed in the Catawba County Detention Facility under $6,000 bond. A District Court appearance is scheduled Monday (April 22).
