Deputy on Paid Leave 

A Burke County deputy has been placed on paid leave as the Sheriff’s Department

conducts an investigation into a chokehold that causes a suspect to lose

consciousness.  According to WSOC-TV, two videos of the incident were posted on

TikTok four days ago.  The 1^st video shows a Burke County deputy using a

chokehold on a suspect from a traffic stop.  The suspect loses consciousness and

slumps.  The 2^nd video shows that the suspect has regained consciousness and says

the suspect was resisting arrest at the beginning of the traffic stop.

McDowell Man Indicted in Federal Court 

A federal grand jury has indicted a McDowell County postal service worker.  The

indictment says William James unlawfully detained, destroyed and delayed mail. 

James is accused of opening letters, cards and packages between April and

December of 2020.

Lenoir Man Convicted on Drug Charges 

32 year old Joathan Sherwood Watson of Lenoir will serve a prison term of six to

eight years following his conviction for trafficking methamphetamine by transport

and possession, and fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle.  The Honorable

Daniel A Kuehnert imposed the sentence after Watson pleaded guilty during

Caldwell County Superior Court on Tuesday.  The defendant will also be required

to pay a mandatory fine of fifty thousand dollars.  Watson’s conviction stems from

an April 26^th, 2021 attempted traffic on US 321 near Granite Falls.  Watson led

officers on a high speed chase until he eventually overturned.  A foot chase

followed.  A search of the vehicle yielded meth packaged in various containers.

Masks Recommended for Schools  

Masks in North Carolina may be coming off at the end of the month, but North

Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said yesterday that he thinks schools in North

Carolina should require masks when they start back to school.  Areas throughout

the state are seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases in recent days, especially among

those who are not vaccinated.  Governor Cooper says schools should require

masks for K-8 pupils indoors, plus masks for high school teens and teachers who

are not vaccinated.

Man Charged with Financial Card Theft       

A Charlotte man has been charged with using a man’s financial card to rack up

thousands of dollars’ worth of fraudulent charges to his bank account from

January of 2021 to July of 2021.  24 year old Rackwon Deshawn Long of Lander

Street in Charlotte was charged with seven felony counts of identity theft, after

the victim notified Lincoln County authorities he found fraudulent charges while

checking his checking account on July 5^th.    Long was placed in jail under a

fifteen thousand dollar secured bond. He was also served a criminal summons

from Gaston County for simple assault and communicating threats.

Patrol Boat Launched on Lake Norman 

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office launched a new Lake Patrol Boat on Tuesday at

Beatty’s Ford Access on Lake Norman.  The law enforcement agency took

possession of the Metal Shark 23 Relentless on July 6^th.  The formal launch was

attended by residents, county officials and several county commissioners.  The 

craft will offer law enforcement services on the Lake.