Birthday Gift Santa Cops Donation

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office was surprised with a visit today from 9 year old Noah Lackey and his family. Noah recently received gifts at his 9th Birthday Party and decided that he would like for under privileged children to receive them instead. He donated several wrapped and unwrapped gifts to the Sheriff’s Office Santa Cops Program. These gifts will be distributed to the children of locally incarcerated inmates this Christmas. Sheriff Bowman would like to publicly give a big “Thank You” to young Noah, his parents and his little brother Mason Lackey!

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office and Taylorsville Police Dept. Narcotics Units have concluded a long term investigation into the sales and use of Illicit Narcotics throughout Alexander County and the Town limits of Taylorsville.

During the investigation Illegal narcotics, prescription pain pills, and U.S. Currency derived from the sales of these narcotics have been seized. These Seizures include:

272.8 grams of Methamphetamine

10.5 grams of Cocaine

139.92 grams of marijuana

374 Dosage Units of Prescription Narcotic Pills

12 Firearms. 2 which were stolen

$2,825.00 in U.S. Currency

Those charged during this long term Investigation are as follows:

Perry Randall Miller age 53 of Taylorsville

Trafficking Methamphetamine by Possession

PWISD Methamphetamine 2 cts

Possess Methamphetamine 2cts

Maintain Dwelling for Controlled Substance 2cts

Possess Drug Paraphernalia 2cts

Possess Cocaine

Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon2 cts

PWIMSD Marijuana

Possession of Marijuana

Simple Possession of Sch II

Miller was arrested on 08/15/2018 and is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center

Under a $125,000.00 Secured Bond. First Appearance Scheduled for 08/20/2018

Lisa Whiteside Miller age 51 of Taylorsville

Trafficking Methamphetamine by Possession

PWISD Methamphetamine 2cts

Possess Methamphetamine 2cts

Maintain Dwelling for Controlled Substance 2cts

Possess Drug Paraphernalia 2cts

Possess Cocaine

Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon 2cts

PWIMSD Marijuana

Possession of Marijuana

Simple Possession of SCH II

Miller was arrested on 08/15/2018 and is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center

Under a $125,000.00 Secured Bond. First Appearance Scheduled for 08/20/2018

Joshua Edward Bryant age 27  of Taylorsville

PWISD Methamphetamine

Possess Methamphetamine

Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Maintain a Dwelling for Controlled Substance

Possess Stolen Firearm

Bryant was arrested on 08/15/2018 and is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center

Under a $50,000.00 Secured bond. First Appearance scheduled for 08/20/2018

William Caleb Wyatt age 20 of Taylorsville

PWISD Methamphetamine

Possess Methamphetamine

Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Maintain Dwelling for Controlled Substance

Wyatt was arrested on 08/15/2018 and is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center

Under a $25,000.00 secured bond. First Appearance scheduled for 08/20/2018

Tyler Shore Sturgill age 20  of Wilkesboro, NC

Possess Marijuana

Maintain Vehicle for Controlled Substance

Sturgill was arrested on 08/15/2018 and is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center

Under a $5,000.00 Secured Bond. First Appearance Scheduled for 08/20/218

Melissa Jo Waldrop age 36 of  Taylorsville

Simple Possession of SCH IV

Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Waldroup was arrested on 08/15/2018 and is being held

Under a $1,000.00 Secured bond. First Appearance scheduled for 08/27/2018

Scott Darnell Frye age 54 of  Hiddenite NC

Simple Possession SCH IV

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Frye was arrested on 08/15/2018 and is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center

Under a $1,500.00 Secured Bond. First Appearance scheduled for 09/10/2018

Elizabeth Conway Vetetoe age 36 of  Hickory NC

PWISD SCH II

Simple Possession of SchII

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

WANTED No Photo Available

Jervane Allen Parson age 21 of  Taylorsville, NC

Possess Marijuana 2cts

Possess Marijuana Paraphernalia Cts

WANTED

Dawn Bumgarner Herman age 43 of Taylorsville

Trafficking Methamphetamine

PWIMSD Methamphetamine

Possession of Methamphetamine

PWISD Sch IV

Maintain Dwelling for Controlled Substance

Possession of Marijuana

Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Possess Marijuana Paraphernalia

WANTED

Sara Whitney Varner age 24 of  Taylorsville

Possession of Sch IV

Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Varner was arrested on 07/12/2018 and is awaiting trial

Courtney Cheek Loudermelk age 33 of  Newton, NC

Possess Methamphetamine

Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Loudermelk was arrested on 07/12/2018 and is awaiting trial

Patricia Bowman Holsclaw age 47 of Taylorsville, NC

PWIMSD SCH II

Possess SCH II

Maintain Dwelling for Controlled Substance

Trafficking Opiates

Possess Marijuana

PWIMSD Sch III

Possess Marijuana Paraphernalia

Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Holsclaw was arrested on 08/04/2018 and is awaiting trial

Natasha Naomi Banks age 35 of   Morganton, NC

Trafficking Methamphetamine by Possession

Trafficking Methamphetamine by Transportation

PWISD SCH II

Poss. SCH II

Maintain Vehicle for Controlled Substance

WANTED

Joao Victor Dos Passos age 22 of  Taylorsville

Trafficking Methamphetamine

Poss. Methamphetamine

PWISD Marijuana

Felony Possession of Marijuana

Maintain Vehicle for Controlled Substance

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia 2 Cts

Possession of Stolen Firearm

Dos Passos was arrested on 06/13/2018 and is awaiting trial

Brandon Michael Pennell age 28 of  Taylorsville, NC

Possession of Methamphetamine

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Pennell was arrested on 07/12/2018 and is awaiting trial

Ronnie Lynn Benfield age 50 of   Conover ,NC

PWIMSD Methamphetamine

Possession of Methamphetamine

Drug Paraphernalia

WANTED

Melanie Austin age 50 of  Taylorsville, NC

Simple Possession of SCHII

Drug Paraphernalia

Austing was arrested on 08/15/2018 and is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center

Under a $1,500.00. First Appearance scheduled for 09/10/2018

Thomas Hamby age 17 of Taylorsville, NC

Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia

WANTED

Patrick Lamont Parsons age 38 of  Taylorsville, NC

PWISD Marijuana

Conspiracy to Sell and Deliver Marijuana

Sell Marijuana

Deliver Marijuana

Poss. Marijuana Paraphernalia

Parsons was arrested on 08/15/2018 and is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center

Under a $50,000.00 Secured bond. First Appearance scheduled for 08/20/2018

Nicholas Joel Beliveau age 37 of  Taylorville, NC

Poss. Drug Paraphernalia

WANTED

• Joshua Franklin Deal, 33, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 17th, 2018, for Assault on a Handicapped Person. He was held under a secured bond of $75,000.
•  Cory Andrew Hartness, 33, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 18th, 2018, for Possession with Intent to Sell and/or Deliver, Flee/Elude Arrest, Reckless Driving to Endanger, and Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia. He was held under a secured bond of $25,000.
•  Victor Anthony Arrigo, 33, of Taylorsville NC was arrested for Failure to Appear-No Operator’s License, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Simple Possession of Schedule 6. He was held under a secured bond of $500.
•  Trenton Kade Tarlton, 28, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 18th, 2018, for Possession of Schedule 2 and Possession of Paraphernalia. He was held under a secured bond of $10,000.
•  Robert Bryan Hoover, 36, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 18th, 2018, for Possession with Intent to Sell and/or Deliver, Maintaining a Dwelling for a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was held under a secured bond of $44,000.
•  Michael Shae Keaton, 35, of Stony Point NC was arrested on August 19th, 2018, for Possession with Intent to Manufacture Sell and/or Deliver, Possession of Schedule 2, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
•  Bryan Michael Pearson, 33, of Stony Point NC was arrested on August 19th, 2018, for Assault on a Handicapped Person and Damage to Personal Property. He was held under a secured bond of $25,000.
•  Shaun Christopher  Chancy, 37, of Taylorsville was arrested on August 19th, 2018, for Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Bodily Injury. He was held under a secured bond of $25,000.
• Jason Elvie Holloway , 30, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 19th, 2018, for Possession with Intent to Manufacture Sell and/or Deliver, Possession with Intent to Manufacture Sell and/ or Deliver Marijuana, Maintaining a Dwelling for a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Marijuana. He was held under a secured bond of $60,000.
• John Wesley McDuffie, 35, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 19th, 2018, for Possession of schedule II and Possession of Paraphernalia. He was held under a secured bond of $10,000.
• Hildred Tyron Boston, 24, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 21st, 2018, for Conspiring to Sell and/or Deliver Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia. He was held under a secured bond of $20,000 with a court appearance scheduled for August 27th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Eugenio Mata Carbajal, 25, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 21st, 2018, for Possession with Intent to Sell and/or Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Vehicle for a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Simple Possession of Schedule 6. He was held under a secured bond of $13,200.
• Thomas Elijah Hamby, 17, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 22nd, 2018, for Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia. He was held under a secured bond of $1,000.
• Chad Edward Simpson, 34, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 24th, 2018, for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Schedule 4. He was held under a secured bond of $15,000.
• Toshua Coley, 36, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 24th, 2018, for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Schedule 2, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Benjamin Gilreath

On Tuesday, August 28^th, 2018, the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office received a report from Alexander County Department of Social Services which involved allegations of Statutory Rape of a Child.  Further investigation revealed that the suspect in this case was Benjamin Rustin Gilreath, 34 years old of the Hiddenite Community.  Mr. Gilreath was arrested without incident and charge with 1 count of Felony Statutory Rape of a Child by an Adult.  Mr. Gilreath was transported to the Alexander County Detention Center where he was placed under a $500,000.00 Secured Bond.  He is scheduled for his first appearance on Monday, September 10^th, 2018 in District Court in Taylorsville.   

Benjamin Gilreath

On Wednesday, August 29^th, 2018, Investigators from the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office obtained further information.  This in turn led to more charges for Benjamin “Ben” Rustin Gilreath, 34 years old of the Hiddenite Community.  Mr. Gilreath was charged with an additional 19 counts of Felony Statutory Rape of a Child by an Adult.  He was also charged with 20 counts of First Degree Statutory Sex Offense and 20 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child.  Mr. Gilreath remains in the Alexander County Detention Center where he was placed under an additional $5,000,000.00 Secured Bond.  He is scheduled for his first court appearance on Monday, September 10^th, 2018 in District Court in Taylorsville.  This case is still under investigation. 

Sheriff’s Blotter

September 11, 2018

• Kasey Steven Church, 27, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on September 7^th, 2018, for Larceny, Breaking Into a Coin Machine, and Injury to a Building, Wall, or Fence. He was held under a Secured bond of $3,000.
• Trial: September 10^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Ricky Lee Melton, 56, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on September 9^th, 2018, for Felony Larceny. He was held under a secured bond of $3,000.
• Trial: September 17^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Casey Shane Reed, 32, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on August 27^th, 2018, for Failure to Report a New Address Sex Offender.  He was held under a secured bond of $2,500.
• Trial: September 10^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Rhonda Michelle Durmire, 46, was arrested on August 27^th, 2018, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia. She was held under a secured bond of $2,000.
• Trial: September 24^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.

Cathy Mayes Eller

Cathy Mayes Eller, 48, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on September 12th, 2018, for Possession of Methamphetamine, Delivering Methamphetamine, and Selling Methamphetamine.  She was held under a secured bond of $50,000.

Next Court Appearance:  September 20th, 2018, in Taylorsville.

Nicholas Jon Fox

Nicholas Jon Fox, 23, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on September 13th, 2018, for Larceny of a Firearm.  He was held under a secured bond of $5,000.

Next Court Appearance:  September 17th, 2018, in Taylorsville.

Bradley Wayne Inscoe

Bradley Wayne Inscoe, 31, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on September 13th, 2018, for Possession of Marijuana and Simple Possession of Schedule III.  He was held under a secured bond of $10,500.

Next Court Appearance:  September 17th, 2018.

Ralph Aldridge

On October 6, 2018, at approximately 12:00a.m. Alexander County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Hickory Police Officers responded to an address in the Bethlehem Community in reference to an involuntary commitment.  The commitment papers were the result of an incident that occurred on that day in Hickory, where the offender made threats to shoot at Frye Hospital. 

Prior to officers arriving at the residence, the offender, Ralph Walter Aldridge, white male, age 67 made threats to shoot officers if they came to his residence.  When officers arrived at Mr. Aldridge’s residence, the officers initiated conversation with Aldridge over a loud speaker in the patrol car.  Aldridge told the officers to come on up to the residence and he would speak to them.  After he told the officers to come up the residence, Aldridge fired a weapon at the officers.  Rounds hit the officer’s patrol car.  The officers backed out of the location and took cover.  Aldridge continued to make threats that he would shoot officers if they did not leave his property.  Aldridge called the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office communication and told them to have the officers leave the property or he would shoot.  He told them that if they came to the door he would “blow their head off”.   Officers heard several more shots.  Officers could not return fire because they could not see the offender or where he was located. 

Captain Chad Pennell and Lt. Jason Moore were contacted to assist.  Alexander County’s Special Response Team (SRT) were notified to respond to the residence.  Neighbors in the immediate area were evacuated.  Catawba County Sheriff’s Office was notified to see if they would assist using their armored vehicle.  Sheriff Coy Reid and a lieutenant responded to the location with the armored vehicle, which was used to approach the offender’s residence.  Officers made numerous attempts to get the offender to come out of the residence and surrender.  Aldridge continued to threaten officers and stating that he would kill any that came to his door.  Hickory Police Officers blocked the driveway coming into the residence. 

Around 3:00 a.m. Sheriff Bowman made the decision to use tear gas and it was fired into the residence to attempt to get Aldridge to come out peacefully.  Aldridge refused to come out of the residence until multiple rounds of tear gas were deployed into the residence in different locations around the house.  At approximately 5:00 a.m. Aldridge stopped communicating with officers.  At approximately 7:30 a.m. Sheriff Bowman made the decision for officers to make entry.  Officers made entry into the basement of the residence.  As officers entered the basement Mr. Aldridge opened the garage doors and surrendered to officers that were outside the doors.  Aldridge was taken into custody without further incident. No officers or Aldridge were injured in the altercation. 

Aldridge was arrested for the following offenses:  7 counts of Assault on a Government Official with a Deadly Weapon, 7 counts of Communicating Threats, and 7 counts of Attempted Murder on Law Enforcement Officers.  Aldridge was held on 6,000,000 secured bond.  His first court appearance was Monday, October 8, 2018 in District Court in Taylorsville. 

A search warrant was issued and served on Aldridge’s residence the same morning as the incident.  Detectives seized a shotgun, a rifle, a revolver, and numerous rounds of ammunition from the house.  Officer’s also located marijuana at the residence. 

The case is continuing and more charges are likely for the controlled substance. 

Sheriff Bowman would like to thank officers and personnel with the Hickory Police Department, Sheriff Coy Reid and his STAR team, Taylorsville Police Department, Alexander County EMS, and Bethlehem Fire Department. 

• Click to view slideshow.
• Steven Ray Transeau, 30, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 1^st, 2018, for Felony Probation Violation. He was held under a secured bond of $10,500.
• Trial: October 22^nd, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Julie Lynn Pelicano, 60, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 1^st, 2018, for Abuse on an Elder. She was held under a secured bond of $20,000.
• Trial: October 8^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Anthony Steven Steelman, 26, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 1^st,2018, for Probation Violation. He was held under a $5,000.
• Trial: October 29^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Emmanuel Duran Millsaps, 33, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 2^nd, 2018, for Larceny of MV, Driving While License Revoked, and Non Support. He was held under a secured bond of $7,036.15.
• Trial: October 8^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Tara Suzanne Smiley, 39, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 3^rd, 2018, for Breaking and/or Entering and larceny after breaking and/or Entering. She was held under a secured bond of $20,000.
• Trial: October 8^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Russell James Huffman, 40, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 4^th, 2018, for Obstructing Justice. He was held under a forty-eight hour hold.
• Trial: October 8^th, 20189, in Taylorsville.
• Anthony James McCullough, 36, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 4^th, 2018, for Obtaining Property by False Pretense. He was held under a secured bond of $2,000.
• Trial: October 8^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Anthony L. Kerley, 33, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 5^th, 2018, for Breaking and/or Entering and Injury to Personal Property. He was held under a secured bond of $1,000.
• Trial: October 9^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Stephanie Ballas Johnson, 27, of Hickory NC was arrested on October 5^th, 2018, for Probation Violation. She was held under a secured bond of $25,000.
• Trial: December 20^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Ralph Walter Aldridge, 67, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 6^th, 2018, for Assault with a Deadly Weapon on Emergency Personnel, Communicating Threats, and Attempted Murder. He is being held without a bond.
• Trial: October 8th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Ronnie Lynn Benfield, 51, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 6^th, 2018, for Possession with Intent to Manufacture Sell and/or Deliver, Maintain a Vehicle and/or Dwelling Place, Possession with Intent to Manufacture Sell and/or Deliver Schedule 2, and Possession of Schedule 2. He was held under a secured bond of $38,000.
• Trial: December 3^rd, 2018, in Taylorsville.

• Katie Marie Lail, 34, of Catawba NC was arrested on October 12^th, 2018, for Possession of Schedule II and Drug Paraphernalia. She was held under a secured bond of $2,500.
• Trial: October 15th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Brittany Renee Setzer, 27, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 13^th, 2018, for Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, First Degree Burglary, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Cruelty to Animals. She was held under a secured bond of $275,000.
• Trial: October 16^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Justin Eugene Elder, 23, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 14^th, 2018, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was held under an unsecured bond of $1,000.
• Trial: December 3^rd, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Makayla Leann Bortz, 20, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 14^th, 2018, for Simple Assault, Possession of Schedule VI, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was held under a secured bond of $2,500.
• Trial: November 19^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.
• Amy Nicole Adkins, 30, of Taylorsville NC was arrested on October 15^th, 2018, for Obtaining Property by False Pretense. She was held under a secured bond of $2,500.
• Trial: October 15^th, 2018, in Taylorsville.

Tristan Richards

On Sunday, October 21, 2018, the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stabbing at the residence of Samuel Eugene Keller. Mr. Keller ran to the neighbor’s house and said that he had been stabbed. Officers arrived at the scene and found Mr. Keller with stab wounds to the abdomen area of his body.  The suspect, Tristan Richards, white female, age 26, ran into the woods.  Victim was transported by Alexander County EMS to Frye Regional Medical Center where he was treated and released.  Officer located Tristan Richards at her residence approximately and hour and a half later.  She was arrest for Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury.  She received a $15,000 secured bond and her next court date is November 5, 2018.

Tony Wayne Smith

Tony Wayne Smith, white male, age 30 of Hickory was arrested on October 22, 2018. He was charged with 9 counts of Statutory Sex Offense with a child, 8 counts of Indecent Liberties, and one count of Contributing to the delinquency of a  minor.  Bond was set at $1,000,000 and his first court appearance is October 29, 2018 in District Court in Taylorsville.

Emerald Hollow Mine Break In

On October 21, 2018 the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office received a breaking and entering report at the Emerald Hollow Mine located on Emerald Hollow Mine Drive in Hiddenite, NC. Officers arrived and found that a window had been busted out and entry was made through this window into a room where gems are cut, kept and sold.  Display cases and other cases had been pried open.  Two safes were gone through and gems that customers had left for work  awaiting pickup were stolen.

Any information leading to the arrest of individual or individuals will be submitted the Crimestoppers Program for a reward. Approximately $60,000 of emerald jewelry, emerald pieces, and uncut emerald pieces were reported stolen.

Cory Brian Sherrod

Members of the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office assisted by Taylorsville Police have arrested and charged Cory Brian Sherrod age 20 of Taylorsville with the following charges:   Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver a Controlled Substance, Felony Possession of Marijuana, Maintaining a Vehicle for Controlled Substance and Carrying a Concealed Weapon.  The charges are the result of a vehicle stop made on Cougar Ave in Taylorsville.  Officers seized a quantity of marijuana and a loaded handgun from the vehicle.  Sherrod was placed under an $8500.00 bond.  The investigation is continuing. 

Timothy Chatman

On Saturday, October 27^th an Alexander County Sheriff’s Deputy was conducting a traffic stop on NC Highway 16 north of Taylorsville. While discussing the stop with a member of the NC State Highway Patrol who had stopped to assist, the deputy observed a vehicle approaching at a high rate of speed and failing to move over from the patrol cars parked on the shoulder of the roadway with their blue lights on. The deputy attempted to get the drivers attention with his flashlight but the car continued towards him. The deputy was forced to jump for safety, during which time he was struck in the knee by the passing vehicle’s passenger side mirror. The deputy suffered no serious injury from the incident and the driver was stopped a short distance down the road.

Timothy Daniel Chatman of Hiddenite was arrested and charged with Driving While Impaired, Failing to Move Over, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Government Official. He was taken before Magistrate Hall at the Alexander County Detention Center and given a $ 4,000. 00 bond.

Sheriff Bowman would like to remind travelling motorist of North Carolina’s Move Over Law which took effect in January of 2002. The Law requires that motorist, if they can safely do so, slow down and move one lane away from any law enforcement or other emergency vehicle that is on the side of the highway with its lights flashing. On a two-lane highway motorist should slow down, move over and approach cautiously according to General Statute 20-157(f). A violation of the move over law will result in a fine plus court cost as well as putting emergency personnel’s lives in danger.

Lisa Wilson Adams

On October 25^th 2018, members of the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office responded to the North Carolina Department of Corrections located on the Old Landfill Rd. in reference to an investigation about a prison employee possibly providing contraband to an inmate at the facility. After further investigation, Lisa Wilson Adams, age 53 of Lenoir and an employee of the NC Dept. of Corrections, was placed into custody.

Adams was charged with 2 counts of Felony Providing Contraband to an Inmate and 1 count of Misdemeanor Providing Tobacco Product to an Inmate. Her bond was set at $25,000.00 and her first court date was Monday, October 29^th .

The investigation is continuing.

Aaron Michael Thebeau

Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, October 30^th , a sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a vehicle on Friendship Church Rd for a registration violation. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop for the deputy and a motor vehicle chase began then ended a short time later near the end of Wittenburg Rd near Shorty Miller Rd.

The driver, identified as Aaron Michael Thebeau , age 30 , from the Ellendale Community, was taken into custody and charged with Felony Fleeing to Elude Arrest with a Motor Vehicle, Resisting a Public Officer, Driving While License Revoked and Expired Registration Tag. Bond was set at $ 8,000.00 and his first court appearance is scheduled for November 5^, 2018 .

Bryan Christopher Fox

On Wednesday, October 31^st, 2018, after a lengthy investigation, Detectives from the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office obtained warrants on a Registered Sex Offender from the Bethlehem Community.  Arrested and charged was Bryan Christopher Fox, age 35.  Mr. Fox was charged with 2 counts of First Degree Statutory Sex Offense and 1 count of Indecent Liberties with a Child.  The incident Mr. Fox is charged with, occurred between October 2012 and October 2013.  Mr. Fox was arrested at his residence without incident and transported to the Alexander County Detention Center where he was placed under a $1,000,000.00 Secured Bond.  He is scheduled for his First Appearance on Monday, November 5^th, 2018 in District Court in Taylorsville.  This case is still being investigated. 

Sadarius Douglas

On Thursday, November 15, 2018, the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office was notified by personnel at the Alexander Correctional Institute about a letter that was mailed to Legal Services in Raleigh.  The letter had a return address from an inmate at the correctional facility.  The letter was a threat to blow up the prison and the three closest schools to the prison if prison authorities did not clear up an internal matter concerning the inmate.  It is believed this was the reason for the writing of the letter.  Detectives went to the Alexander Correctional Facility on the 15^th and interviewed that particular inmate.  On Friday, a second interview was conducted with the inmate.  Further investigation was needed before an arrest could be made. 

On Monday, November 19, 2018, the inmate was interviewed again.  Detectives obtained the original letter and it was sent to the NC Crime lab to be analyzed for fingerprints and DNA.  A rush was put on the request due to the threats made to the educational facilities and the prison.  On Wednesday, November 21, 2018, detectives were notified of a match to the DNA found on the envelope.  The offender was an inmate at Alexander Correctional; however, it was not the inmate on the return address of the envelope.  The offender was identified as Sadarius Trumane Douglas, black male, age 24.  Warrants were obtained on Douglas for Threat of Mass Violence on Educational Property (3 counts) and one count of Making a Threat of a Destructive Device on the prison.  Douglas was brought to the Alexander Co. Sheriff’s Office for processing on Monday, November 26, 2018.  His first appearance was on the same day and he was placed under a $150,000 secured bond.  He will remain in the custody of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Prisons. 

Throughout the investigation the Sheriff has maintained communication with school administration, prison personnel, state and federal authorities.  Enhanced law enforcement security was put in place at all schools in Alexander County by the Sheriff’s Office and NC Probation officers to ensure the safety of the children and staff. 

The investigation is still continuing to determine if others may have been involved inside or outside of the prison.  The Sheriff’s Office worked closely with all agencies to find out the identity of the offender as quickly as possible. 

The Sheriff wants to thank the NC Public Safety Division of Prison, the State Bureau of Investigations, the NC Crime Lab, NC Probation and Parole, Taylorsville Police Department, Alexander County Schools, Alexander County Emergency Services.  

Authority:  Sheriff Chris Bowman 11/26/2018

On Tuesday, December 18, 2018, Kimberly Ann Austin, W/F, age 56 of Taylorsville was arrested at her residence by the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office. She was charged with two counts of Misdemeanor Child Abuse. These charges stem from the bus accident that occurred on Monday, December 17, 2018 near West Alexander Middle School. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is the lead investigating agency for the motor vehicle accident, and the investigation is continuing. Austin is being held at the Alexander County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond. There is a first appearance date scheduled for January 28, 2019 in Alexander County District Court.