COVID-19 UPDATE

COVID-19 continues to take its toll on Burke County residents as local health officials Monday reported the fiftieth virus-related death.

A news release says the individual was in their 90’s, and was hospitalized when they died from COVID-19 related complications.

The number of positive cases in Burke County totals 2-thousand-686 now, an increase of 25 positives since Saturday.

391 cases are reported to be active, 2-thousand-231 have recovered, and 9 are hospitalized.

McDowell County health officials reported an increase of 22 positives Monday, bringing the number of total cases to 1-thousand-47.

89 remain in quarantine, and 928 are out of quarantine.

Caldwell County reported the 30th death with the patient over the age of 75

and reportedly had underlying medical conditions. Caldwell had an additional

47 cases reported Monday for a total of 2-thousand-3.

Catawba County reported 40 new cases of the virus Monday for a total of

3-thousand-631, and 3 additional deaths bringing the total to 60.

Armed Robbery

Two men have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery of an eastern Burke County gas station last week.

38-year-old Yia Vang of Morganton and 36-year-old Nohsher Chiah of Fletcher have both been charged with felony robbery with a firearm.

The two men reportedly robbed the Valero gas station on South Center Street in Hildebran.

The store clerk told officers an Asian man came into the store, showed a handgun and demanded money.

The man then left the store in a blue Toyota car with a male driver according to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators recovered video surveillance of the robbery and were able to find the suspect’s vehicle the next day.

Chia and Vang were arrested from evidence found in the car.

Vang was issued a 100-thousand dollar secured bond, while Chiah was held without bond.

Drug Suspect Flees

Wanted on outstanding warrants, a suspect flees from officers in McDowell County and is later found to possess drugs.

28-year-old Cody Allen Metcalf of Marion fled on foot from deputies September 29^th on US 221 North.

Once officers caught up to Metcalf, reports say he continued to resist arrest.

Authorities also searched him and his belongings and discovered point-20 grams of meth and a suboxone pill.

Metcalf was then charged with possession of meth, possession of a schedule-4 controlled substance, and resisting a public officer.

Alexander Stabbing

An altercation between two individuals in Alexander County Sunday leads to a stabbing.

Reports say authorities responded to a residence on Stony Point School road around 11 pm Sunday.

Upon arrival, officers found a victim bleeding from a neck injury.

The victim told lawmen he had been in a verbal disagreement with an individual that had escalated into the assault.

The victim and another witness at the scene told authorities that the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Paul Mitchell Vaughn of Maiden had left on foot.

Officials with the state highway patrol were able to locate and arrest Vaughn.

Officers found Vaughn to be in possession of a knife, narcotics, and drug paraphernalia.

Vaughn was jailed and charged with multiple offenses under a 134-thousand dollar bond.