COVID-19 UPDATE

The number of COVID-19 positive cases continues to grow daily, while public health officials report two more virus related deaths in Burke County.

According to a news release issued Wednesday, officials report the sixty-second and sixty-third COVID deaths to occur in Burke since the pandemic began in March.

One individual was in their 70’s, was hospitalized, but later died from virus related complications.

The second person was in their 80’s, was not hospitalized, but died from COVID associated complications.

24 new positive cases were added to Burke’s tally, bringing the county’s total to 3-thousand-221 positives.

The latest figures show 481 cases are active, 2-thousand-664 are reported as recovered, and 6 remain hospitalized.

In McDowell County, public health reports 14 additional positives; bringing the total number of positives to 1-thousand-316.

130 individuals in McDowell remain in quarantine.

In Caldwell County, the 33rd COVID-19 related death was reported, with the patient between the ages of 65 and 74, was hospitalized, and reported to have underlying health conditions. Thirty new cases were reported in Caldwell yesterday and twenty patients are hospitalized.

Catawba County saw an increase of 49 COVID-19 cases Wednesday for a cumulative total of 4-thousand-880. 44 patients are hospitalized.

Shelby Man Sentenced

A Shelby man has been sentenced to a prison term for his involvement in a pair of robberies – one in Burke, and the other in Catawba County.

20-year-old Kamau Jarek Clark pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, as well as two counts of second-degree kidnapping.

Clark was sentenced Tuesday in Burke County Superior Court to an active prison term of five to seven years.

One of the robberies took place in Newton on June 12^th 2019, while the other took place in Morganton the following day.

In both instances, report say Clark and co-defendants held employees of two businesses at gunpoint and robbed them of cash, while also stealing money from the businesses.

Clark also received a pair of suspended sentences of 27 to 45 months each for the kidnapping charges to be served consecutively if he violates terms of his probation.

Deputies Assaulted

Two recent incidents in McDowell County have led to deputies being assaulted.

51-year-old Theodore Scott Owenby of Marion is charged with three counts of assault on a government official and one count of resisting a public officer.

McDowell deputies responded to a domestic dispute around midnight November 1^st at Owenby’s residence.

Officers had discovered there were three outstanding warrants for Owenby’s arrest .

When they arrived on scene and attempted to take him into custody, reports say Owenby began fighting and assaulted three officers.

In a separate incident 50-year-old Scott Lee Parry of Marion was charged with resisting a public officer, communicating threats, and assault on a government official.

An officer reportedly responded to Parry’s home because of a loud music complaint.

As the officer arrived and advised the suspect to turn the music down, Parry became belligerent and struck the deputy in the head.

Reports say other officers then arrived on scene and took Parry into custody.

Woman Charged  As Accessory to Murder

A 34 year old woman has been charged with accessory after the fact of murder in

connection with the homicide of Samuel Antonio Hernandez Loza.  Sheala Diane

Layell was arrested by Catawba County law enforcement officers and placed in

the Catawba County Detention Center under a 75 thousand dollar secure bond. 

Tony Marshall Shook remains in custody charged with the murder of Loza.  No

bond has been set for him at this time.  The homicide appears to be narcotics

related according to a press release from the Catawba County Sheriff’s

Department.