COVID-19

The beginning of a new week sees the continuation of relatively low increases of COVID-19.

Burke County Public Health on Monday reported three new cases since Friday for a total of 10-thousand-312.

97 cases are reported to be active, while 3 remain hospitalized.

In Caldwell County, four new cases of the virus was reported yesterday for a total of 9-thousand-542.

2 people in Caldwell are in the hospital.

Catawba County Monday afternoon reported 18 new cases of COVID for a total of 19-thousand-282.

6 Catawba County residents remain in the hospital.

McDowell County reported 5 new cases yesterday, for a total of 5-thousand-164.

Newton Murder

A man has been arrested and charged with murder in the weekend shooting death of a Newton woman.

Reports say Newton police responded to a residence on South Caldwell Avenue around 10:45 Saturday morning.

51-year-old Iris Ranae Robinson had reportedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.

60-year-old Jessie Allen Crawford was identified as the suspected shooter; however, he had left the scene before officers arrived.

Arrest warrants were obtained for Crawford on first-degree murder charges.

According to reports, he was taken into custody at the police department around 2:30 Saturday afternoon.

Crawford was taken to the Catawba County Detention facility where he remains without bond.

Evidence Destroyed

A pair of suspects in a McDowell County child abuse case now faces charges of destroying evidence.

30-year-old Kirsten Nicole Williams and 26-year-old Sami Loraine Williams both of McKinney Road West in Marion were previously charged with child abuse inflicting serious injury after reports say they physically abused a boy who was in their custody.

During the investigation, detectives discovered the women altered and destroyed a video of the abuse.

Both suspects are additionally charged with altering, stealing, or destroying evidence.

Catawba Deputy Fired

An off-duty Catawba County deputy has reportedly been terminated following an alleged DWI-crash in their patrol car.

Officials say the officer was not working in any law enforcement capacity at the time of the accident, but wrecked along Radio Station Road after picking up his patrol vehicle from a maintenance appointment.

The NC Highway Patrol is investigating the incident and has charged the deputy with driving while impaired.

Reports with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office say the officer was immediately placed on administrative leave and has since been fired.

The name of the deputy has not been released.