Booking Report For Cherokee County First Week In April

http://issuu.com/coppn4god/docs/mediareporttype2withphoto20110404092143.pdf

CLANDESTINE METHAMPHETAMINE LAB BUSTED IN CHEROKEE COUNTY

Susan Russell

Dustin Whitener

Kristain Watson

Mitchell Hughes

Murphy, NC— On Thursday March 17, 2011 Narcotics Investigators with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office seized a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory at 154 Dinkins Creek Road in the Hanging Dog Community of Cherokee County North Carolina.

In connection with the seizure of the lab, Cherokee County Narcotics Investigators arrested Mitchell Leon Hughes, 36 of Farner, Tennessee, for possession and manufacture of methamphetamine. Kristain Taylor Watson, 18 of Murphy was arrested for possession of methamphetamine.  Dustin Alan Whitener, 24 of Murphy, was arrested for exceeding the pseudoephedrine purchase limits, and Susan McAfee Russell, 49 of Murphy, was arrested for possession of a precursor chemical with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

Hughes was confined in the Cherokee County Detention Center on a $70,000.00 secure bond. Whitener is currently being held on a $15000.00 secure bond in the Cherokee County Detention Center. Russell is currently being held at the Cherokee County Detention Center on a $15,000.00 secure bond.  Watson was set a bond of $3000 secured and was released on Friday March 18, 2011.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Special Response Team. Hazardous Materials Cleanup response services were provided by Advanced Environmental Options of Greenville, South Carolina.

Hughes was arrested previously in October of 2010 for the manufacture of methamphetamine and trafficking in methamphetamine.

CLANDESTINE DRUG LAB TAKEN DOWN IN CHEROKEE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA

Murphy, NC— On Thursday March 10^TH, 2011 a joint investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the  North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Special Response Team discovered and seized a clandestine methamphetamine lab in the Culberson area of Cherokee County. Law enforcement officers were at the residence executing a search warrant for suspected drug activity when the discovery of the lab was made.

Due to environmental health hazards the site was cleaned by Advanced Environmental Options of Spartanburg South Carolina which was paid for by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Assisting in the operation was the Culberson Fire Department.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

OPERATION MEDICINE DROP

Murphy, NC— On Saturday March 26, 2011 Cherokee County Law Enforcement Agencies will operate three sites where residents can drop off unwanted, outdated or unused prescription medication. These locations will be staffed by law enforcement officers and will be open from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

The three locations are:

1. Ranger Volunteer Fire Department
2. Murphy Volunteer Fire Department
3. Valleytown Rural Fire Department

The week of March 20-26 is National Poison Prevention Week. Narcotics and Prescription drugs account for approximately 77% of all unintentional poisoning deaths. Unintentional poisonings are the second leading cause of injury in North Carolina. Nonfatal poisonings are especially common in young children under the age of five.

Operation Medicine Drop is a cooperative effort of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Andrews Police Department and Murphy Police Department. Cherokee County’s Law Enforcement agencies are partnering with Coalition for a Safe and Drug Free Cherokee County in sponsoring Operation Medicine Drop in Cherokee County. Questions can be directed to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at 828-837-2589.

Latest Booking Report.

http://issuu.com/coppn4god/docs/booked_during_period_-_media_report_type_2_with_ph

LOCAL COUPLE ARRESTED FOR THEFTS

Joshua Brent Gibby

Cheynne Spicola

Murphy, NC— Joshua Brent Gibby, a 31 year old man and Cheyenne Spicola a 20 year old female who both listed Marble North Carolina as their residence were arrested by Deputies of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office following a traffic stop.

On February 22, 2010 in the afternoon hours, Deputy Payne of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling in the area of Coalville Road, Marble North Carolina when he stopped a vehicle in which both Gibby and Spicola were occupants because of a child safety restraint violation. During a wants, warrants, and registration check information was provided that Gibby was not licensed to drive and further that he had outstanding felony warrants which had been issued for a previous incident investigated by investigators of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office where Gibby was accused of feloniously converting property at a residence where Gibby had previously lived. Deputy Mckinny, of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office and personnel from the North Carolina Highway Patrol arrived to assist. During a search of the vehicle that Gibby and Spicola had occupied several pounds of copper was found.

Copper theft in the Cherokee County North Carolina area has been on the rise over the last few months. Several reports have been taken and are being investigated by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Efforts are being undertaken by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office to work with local scrap dealers in identifying individuals who are selling the scrap copper and other metals in an effort to identify individuals that are stealing copper.

North Carolina general statutes provide It shall be unlawful for any person to transport or have in his possession on highways of this State, in any vehicle other than a vehicle used in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of transporting such copper, an amount of such copper of an aggregate weight of more than 25 pounds, unless such person shall have in his possession

(1) A bill of sale pertaining to such copper signed by (i) a holder of a sales and use tax registration number from the North Carolina Department of Revenue; or (ii) an authorized wholesaler engaged in the sale of such copper; or (iii) a registered dealer in scrap metals; or (iv) a seller of antiques or objects of art; or

(2) In the event the person from whom such copper was purchased was other than one of the above enumerated persons or firms, a certificate of origin signed by the sheriff, or his designated representative, of the county in which the purchase was made.

Gibby and Spicola both were given unsecured bonds and are awaiting initial appearance in Cherokee County District Court in March 2011.

CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER ARRESTED FOR VIOLATING REGISTRY LAWS

Damon Weston Bivens

Murphy, NC— Damon Weston Bivens, a 17 year old Andrews North Carolina man was arrested by Deputies of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for violating provisions of the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry Statutes, and for violating conditions and terms of a Domestic Violence Protective Order.

On February 17^th, 2011 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit became aware that Damon Bivens, a registered sex offender residing in Cherokee County North Carolina had created an account on the social networking site Facebook.com. Bivens, who was registered as a result of a 2010 conviction for sexual battery was using the Facebook.com account to violate the terms and conditions of a Domestic Violence Protective Order issued by 30^th Judicial District in August of 2010. During the investigation information was discovered that Bivens had been on the premises of The Zone, a local teen establishment.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is a member of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children (NCICAC) Task Force. The ICAC Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local enforcement agents. The purpose of the ICAC task force is to investigate complaints of child exploitation. For more information on the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office visit http://www.cherokeecounty-nc.gov/departments/ccso/, or follow on www.ccsonc.blogspot.com.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Bivens is currently confined in the Cherokee County Detention Facility on a $20,000.00 bond. Bivens is scheduled to appear in Cherokee County District Court on February 23, 2011.