Charges continue to mount for a Marion man who was initially charged with assault and animal cruelty.

28-year-old Corey Austin Bartlett of Morgan road is now charged by McDowell deputies with two counts each of assault by pointing a gun and kidnapping, and one count of assault with a deadly weapon in the presence of a minor.

Detectives discovered from Bartlett’s wife that in late July he had held her and their 5-year-old son at gunpoint during a rage and refused to let them leave.

Bartlett was previously arrested August 13^th by Marion Police at Bojangles on Sugar Hill Road for threatening his wife while she was working.

He was also charged with animal cruelty after officers found an injured dog inside the house without food or water.

A Marion woman being booked into jail was discovered to be in possession of drugs.

36-year-old Keri Leighann Presnell of West Tate Street was being processed into the McDowell County jail whenever officers found point-10 grams of meth, four various pills, and drug paraphernalia during their search.

Presnell was originally being charged for failure to appear, but now faces several drug possession charges.

A vehicle chase that began in Gaston County Sunday afternoon ended in a Lincoln County soybean field.

A news release says the vehicle involved was reported stolen in Mecklenburg County.

Gaston County officers spotted the car, gave chase into Lincoln County where the car crashed into the soybean field on Pleasant Grove Church Road just north of Crouse.

Reports say the vehicle’s occupants ran from the scene while Lincoln deputies and the state highway patrol managed to locate two of the people.

The driver was identified as 30-year-old Corey Allen Anderson of Stanley.

Gaston County charged him with multiple traffic offenses including resist delay and obstruct a public officer.

Anderson was jailed under a 52-thousand-500 dollar secured bond.

The investigation continues.

Morganton citizens need not be alarmed today (Thursday) if hearing a small explosion –

Weather permitting, the city has scheduled contractors to complete construction work involving blasting at 506 South Sterling Street.

The blasting is scheduled to only last a couple of minutes while crews work to upgrade storm drainage systems.

Morganton Public Safety will block traffic for approximately 10 minutes while the work is completed.

Following the indictment of a Boone man on child pornography charges, Boone Police and the US Attorney’s Office are looking to identify more possible victims – that according to a press release issued by the Western Carolina District of the US Attorney’s Office.

A federal grand jury Monday returned a 21-count superseding indictment against 23-year-old Frank Cromwell.

The release states officials have identified 10 victims so far.

Documents say Cromwell met some of his victims through his Appalachian State University internship as an athletic trainer at Watauga High School.

He is accused of using a cell phone app and other means by posing as a female to mislead juvenile male victims to produce and send him explicit images and videos of themselves.

Cromwell faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a maximum 250-thousand dollar fine per count he is charged with.

ICE agents and Homeland Security Investigations assisted police in the case.

Contact Boone Police at 268-6938 should you have information related to the case.

A Marion man is nabbed at a traffic checkpoint and charged with drug possession.

50-year-old Charles Edward Davis Junior of Carson Elliott Drive was charged by McDowell authorities with meth possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while license revoked.

Reports say a search of his vehicle turned up 10 grams of meth, drug paraphernalia, and open bottles of liquor.

An Avery County statue and well-known landmark was stolen over the weekend.

The Sasquatch statue, more commonly known as Bigfoot, was taken from outside the Mountaineer Landscaping store where it had been a centerpiece for tourists for 3 years.

Authorities say the 8-foot tall figure was unbolted from its foundation; and the theft most likely involved several suspects.

Owners say if the deed was a prank and Bigfoot is returned there will be no questions asked; although if deputies find the stolen statue those involved could be facing felony charges.

Anyone having information about the stolen Bigfoot should call the Avery County Sheriff’s Office at 733-2071.

Authorities continue to investigate a fatal crash that happened in Rutherford County Monday morning.

Just after 7:30, the Highway Patrol reports 43-year-old Michael Ray Ponder of Bostic was traveling south on Brooks Road when he failed to stop for a stop sign at the Whiteside Road intersection.

Reports say Ponder collided into a vehicle driven by 44-year-old James Allen Coffey of Bostic.

Reports indicate Coffey was not wearing a seatbelt at the time, and was ejected from the car.

Coffey died at the scene from his injuries.

Following the issuance of search warrants, State and local law enforcement agencies have searched four gaming locations in Burke County seizing evidence for upcoming court proceedings.

Working with the DA’s office and the NC Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol Law Enforcement, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office served warrants at 1460 US 70 West and 1575 US 70 West in Valdese, and 2210 US 70 East and 2000 Johns River Loop in Morganton.

More than 50 officers conducted Friday’s simultaneous searches at the locations, with authorities also from Morganton Public Safety, Valdese, Drexel, and Glen Alpine police departments assisting.

The sheriff’s office and ALE officials conducted undercover operations and determined the machines in the targeted locations were being operated in violation of NC statutes.

The machines have been seized; while charges and arrests are pending.

A news release says the Burke Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies had received complaints from citizens alleging various crimes at or near the gaming sites.

The investigation continues.

As students across the state begin a new school year, the state Highway Patrol is requesting that motorists keep safe travel a top priority.

More than 14-thousand school buses will be hitting the roadways statewide, transporting over 790-thousand children to and from school.

With this in mind, drivers are encouraged to plan for delays, as congestion is to be expected during the morning and afternoon commutes.

Troopers across the state will increase their focus in and around school zones, monitoring driver behavior both before and after school.

Emphasis will also be placed on ensuring motorists stop for school buses while picking up or discharging passengers.

Drivers are warned to never pass a stopped school bus under any circumstance.

Other suggestions – reduce speeds when approaching school zones, avoid distracted driving, be mindful of school bus stops, and stay alert in and around school zones for pedestrians and crossing guards.

While the Highway Patrol and other law enforcement officials will be working to ensure safety for students, the responsibility must be shared by everyone.

Officials with the state department of health and human services joined other state and local dignitaries this morning to dedicate the new Broughton Hospital – one of NC’s three acute care psychiatric hospitals.

A news release says staff will begin the transfer of patients to the new facility in late September.

At the time of the move, the 477-thousand square foot hospital will be staffed for the current capacity of 297 beds; however, capacity can be increased over time up to 382 beds.

Basic construction costs for Broughton including the building, utilities and grounds was 129-point-9 million dollars; while the total funding for new construction, design, medical equipment, furniture, telecommunications, information technology and equipment amounted to 154-point-7 million.

The original Broughton Hospital admitted its first patient in 1883.

According to the Associated Press, Governor Roy Cooper has vetoed legislation requiring NC Sheriffs to recognize requests by federal immigration agents to hold inmates believed to be in the country illegally.

Cooper vetoed the measure Wednesday, shortly after the GOP-controlled General Assembly gave it final approval.

The bill responds to several recently-elected Democratic sheriffs who are refusing to cooperate with ICE agents, especially as it relates to detainees.

The documents submitted by agents are not arrest warrants, but request that a suspect be held another 48 hours for pickup.

Cooper says the bill is unconstitutional.

The legislature could attempt to override the veto, but would need support from several Democrats.

Shelby Police report an armed carjacking Tuesday in the parking lot of the Cleveland Mall.

Reports say the incident occurred outside of Belk around 2:30 p.m.

Two black men between the ages of 18 and 20 brandished guns and reportedly took a 2016 BMW.

The two suspects were described as wearing hoodies, skinny jeans, and one was wearing a hat.

Should you have information regarding the theft, contact Shelby Police at 704-484-6845.

A convenience store customer in the Chesterfield area of Burke County pursues an alleged armed robber resulting in the suspect’s injury.

Just before 1 this morning, a release from the Burke Sheriff’s Office says 22-year-old Andrew Michael Davis of Pax Hill Road entered the Shop and Save Convenience store on NC 18-US 64.

Davis was armed with a handgun, and proceeded to ask the store clerk for a carton of cigarettes, took the cash from the register, and left the store on foot walking toward Lenoir.

Reports say a customer in the store gave chase of Davis in his personal vehicle.

Davis was struck and injured by the customer’s vehicle according to reports.

Made aware of a male subject lying in a roadside ditch, a Burke deputy located Davis.

The officer seized a handgun, cash, cigarettes, and a mask near Davis.

He was transported by Burke EMS to an area hospital where he was admitted.

Felony warrants for Davis have been issued including robbery with a dangerous weapon, larceny of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm.

They will be served upon his release from the hospital.

The investigation continues.

An Alexander County man faces 20 child sex charges.

Reports say 73-year-old Roger Ray Hollar is charged with 10 counts of first-degree statutory sex offense, and 10 counts of indecent liberties with a child.

A news release states Hollar was placed in custody under a 1-million dollar secured bond.

His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday August 19^th.

The case remains under investigation.

An Old Fort man stopped for a traffic violation is found with drugs.

50-year-old James Adam Hollowell was pulled over by a McDowell County deputy and found to be driving while license revoked.

The officer spotted drug paraphernalia in plain sight inside of his vehicle.

A search of his truck also turned up 2 grams of meth.

The Red Cross reports the urgent need for blood before summer ends.

With many regular donors putting off donating to take final summer vacations and to prepare for the start of school, the American Red Cross has an emergency need for blood and platelet donations to help end a summer blood shortage.

While thousands of donors have rolled up a sleeve this summer, blood and platelet donations aren’t keeping pace with patient needs.

Red Cross is thanking those who help overcome the shortage and donate before August 29^th with a 5-dollar Amazon gift card.

Nearby opportunities to give this week –

In Morganton on Thursday from 9 am till 1:30 pm at Morganton City Hall, and also from 1 until 5:30 pm at Professor Herb’s Herbal Solutions on Jamestown Road.

And Friday 10 am till 2:30 pm at Lowes Home Improvement Lenoir, and Friday also at the Hickory Masonic Lodge from 2:30 until 7 pm.

Those who donated earlier this summer may be eligible to give again.

Blood can be safely given every 56 days.

You can make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit Red Cross Blood-dot-org, or by calling 1-800-red-cross.

The City of Morganton has hired a new director at COMMA. Mike Musick comes to Morganton with more than 35 years of experience in a variety of positions in the entertainment and theatre industry. Since 2008, Musick has been the Cultural Events Coordinator for Western Illinois University.

The Burke County Sheriff's Office is investigating two law enforcement vehicles that have been broken into between 11 p.m. Friday and 10:15 a.m. Saturday. One marked patrol vehicle's window was broken out at a deputy's home, but the deputy had removed items from the car, so nothing was taken. A Hickory Police Cruiser was also broken into in Eastern Burke County and items were taken from that vehicle. Last Wednesday, a volunteer fireman's vehicle was broken into at 5:26 a.m. by breaking a window and two firearms were stolen. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 438-5500 or Crimestoppers at 437-3333.

Bond was revoked for a Vale man charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury in Burke County. 27-year-old Tykevious Owan Thomas was given a $500,000 secured bond for allegedly shooting two woman early Sunday morning in Connelly Springs, but prosecutors for the State filed a motion Monday during Burke District Court to revoke the bond. The judge granted the State’s motion and Thomas will remain incarcerated at the Burke Catawba Detention Center.

A Granite Falls man will spend six to eight years in prison following his conviction, Monday, for trafficking meth by possession during Caldwell County Superior Court. 32-year-old Skyler Lee Obrien was sentenced after he entered a guilty plea was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.

The Hickory Police Department’s August traffic enforcement will be located on 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues from North Center Street to 9^th Street NW. Enforcement will focus on red light violations, following too closely, distracted driving and speeding.

Four suspects are charged, while one remains wanted in a residential break-in and theft.

19-year-old Tony Esmer Collins the third, 19-year-old Dylan Scott Petersen, 24-year-old Devon Tate, and 19-year-old Collin Dalton Young all four of Marion have each been arrested and charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, and possession of stolen goods.

Authorities continue to look for 20-year-old Joshua Mark Cline of Bryson City.

On May 19^th, Phillip and Michelle Petersen – parents of Dylan Petersen reported someone broke into their home and took more than 12-hundred dollars worth of property including an antique camera and briefcases.

Their son Dylan, along with Collins and Tate were charged in that incident.

Then on June 27^th another break-in at the Petersen home resulted in the theft of more than 19-hundred dollars worth of goods including cameras, a TV, and a pellet rifle.

All five were charged in the second case.

Anyone having information about Cline’s whereabouts should call the McDowell Sheriff’s Office at 652-2237.

The National Academy of Engineering has named a Burke County student as an Engineer Girl Ambassador.

Lillie Williams is a rising senior at Draughn High School and dual enrolled at the NC School of Science and Math.

She has been invited to attend the Women’s Engineers Conference in Anaheim California in November.

Williams is one of 16 female high school students from across the country to be chosen.

Her proposal included creating an outreach project to help get elementary school girls interested in engineering.

Williams will also receive a 250-dollar grant to carry out her project locally.

A Newton man is charged after allegedly throwing a rock and severely injuring a convenience store customer in Claremont.

Reports say 30-year-old Christopher Hedrick had stopped with friends at the Circle-K to get cigarettes around 2 am on July 14^th.

As Hedrick was inside the vehicle and leaving the store, he was struck in the head with a 2 to 3 pound rock.

47-year-old Michael Lee Duncan Junior was arrested and charged with one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury according to reports.

He posted a 75-hundred dollar secured bond and was released from custody.

Hedrick stayed in the intensive care unit at Wake Forest Medical Center for two days; although he is scheduled for additional surgery.

Authorities have not released a motive in the incident.