COVID Death

Burke County Public Health Thursday reported another person has died from COVID-19 putting Burke’s death toll at 170.

According to a news release, the individual was in their 60’s and was hospitalized.

The latest figures show there are 126 active cases in Burke, with 3 hospitalized.

Burke’s total of COVID-19 cases currently stands at 10-thousand-474.

For general questions about COVID-19, contact the Burke County public information line at 828-764-9150 or visit the webpage at burkenc.org/COVID-19.

Caldwell Deputy Shot

A Caldwell County deputy was shot Thursday morning at the scene of a domestic disturbance at a Granite Falls home.

A child had reportedly went to a neighbor saying their father was assaulting their mother.

As officers arrived at the home off Grace View Place, the suspect opened fire; deputies returned fire and a deputy sustained a shot to his leg.

The deputy was transported to Frye Regional in Hickory, treated, and released.

The suspect, identified as Christopher Payne surrendered to lawmen just before 7:30 a.m. after barricading himself inside a bedroom for hours. 

The female victim was able to escape the home before deputies arrived.

An 18-month-old child, reports say, was in the home throughout today’s incident; however, no other injuries were reported.

Payne is charged with assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, felony child abuse, and three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.

He was also served an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear, communicating threats, and second degree trespass.

Payne’s bond has been set at 10-million dollars.

DNA Solves Case

DNA left at a crime scene leads to the arrest of a Nebo couple.

A resident on Brackett Town Road told McDowell officers that someone on January 1^st had broken into his home stealing around 10-thousand dollars worth of items including tools, jewelry, and electronics.

DNA belonging to 28-year-old Nickolas Charles Hall was found on evidence collected at the scene.

Hall and his girlfriend 21-year-old Olivia Michelle Bryan are both charged with two counts each of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, larceny, injury to real property, and injury to personal property.

Reports say some of the stolen property was recovered.

Bad Checks

Lincoln County authorities have charged a Stanley man with obtaining property by false pretenses.

Reports show the incidents occurred between March 23^rd and April 26^th.

57-year-old Freddie Wayne Dellinger allegedly made five purchases of pine straw using bad checks.

Lincoln detectives also learned that Dellinger had made two additional purchases with bad checks.

Dellinger was arrested July 8^th and served arrest warrants for seven counts of obtaining property by false pretenses.

He was jailed under a 14-thousand dollar secured bond.