Inmate Dead

A Burke County inmate jailed on July 4^th has died after being found Monday morning in distress by detention officers.

Just after 2 am, 55-year-old Keith Wayne Sumlin was discovered in his cell with a faint pulse according to a news release from the Burke Sheriff’s Office.

Reports say detention officers called Burke EMS and began CPR.

Although officers and EMS personnel continued life-saving efforts, Sumlin was declared deceased.

The release says Sumlin was being housed alone in a two-bed cell.

And although there was no evidence of trauma or suspicious circumstances, the SBI was called in to conduct an independent investigation.

Sumlin had been charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury in the alleged shooting of Timothy Alan Hyler early on Independence Day.

Lenoir Shooting

A man has sustained life-threatening injuries as the result of a shooting on Main Street in Lenoir Monday morning.

Just before 11 am, Lenoir Police were called to 216 North Main Street where they discovered 35-year-old Travis Lee Webb of Lenoir suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper body.

Webb was initially transported to Caldwell UNC Healthcare and later transferred to Carolinas Med Center in Charlotte.

A suspect, 48-year-old Chad James Emke of Taylorsville was taken into custody, interviewed by officials, and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and child endangerment.

An investigation revealed that Emke and a male juvenile were inside a parked car near the courthouse entrance at 216 North Main Street, when Webb reportedly approached the car and a verbal altercation began.

Emke then, reports say, shot Webb twice using a 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.

Caldwell County bailiffs took Emke into custody, while also administering aid to Webb until medical assistance arrived.

Reports say Emke was there for a scheduled court appearance for custody related issues, and that he and Webb were acquainted.

Investigators believe the shooting to be an isolated event.

The male juvenile was not injured in the incident.

Felon with Handgun

A McDowell County deputy finds a convicted felon with a handgun.

On April 11^th, reports say an officer stopped on Jacktown Road to speak with 29-year-old Patrick Ryan Poteat of Copper Pot Drive in Marion.

Poteat was sitting on the side of the road.

The officer located a handgun with an altered serial number in his possession.

Poteat was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a firearm with an altered serial number.