Any charges issued by former Caldwell County Highway Patrol Officer, C.T.Hodges, which were pending as of June 4th, are being dismissed. According to a press release from the 25th District Attorney's Office, allegations have surfaced that Trooper Hodges allegedly, while off duty, used excessive force toward a DWI suspect in the custody of another law enforcement officer. The alleged incident occurred June 4th. Because of the circumstances, former Trooper will not be called to testify on behalf of the State regarding tickets he previously wrote. Therefore, charges issued by Trooper Hodges pending June 4th are being dismissed. Hodges' alleged use of force is being investigated by the SBI and no further information will be released at this time. The alleged actions of former trooper Hodges do not reflect upon the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, which demands the highest standards of conduct from each and every Trooper at all times, on-duty or off-duty.

A Morganton man faces charges in connection with a theft from a Nebo construction site. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office Tuesday, reported the arrest of 27-year-old Aaron Ralph Gragg. The charges include felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and misdemeanor criminal damage to property. A Nebo man reported July 6th that someone took over $3000 worth of hand and power tools from a construction site on Black Bear Drive. Workers at the site reported seeing Gragg stealing the property. The tools were recovered.

Second Degree kidnapping and other charges are filed on a Burke County man. 42-year-old Richard Scott Setzer of Morganton was also charged with Assault by Pointing a Gun and Communicating Threats. Bond was set at $75,000 with a court appearance scheduled for today.