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.