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.

 

 

 

Fire is Total Loss  

 A Thursday morning fire in Morganton destroys a single story residence.

Public Safety was dispatched just before 11 o’clock to 619 Hopewell Road

where the occupants were evacuated. No injuries to victims or fire

personnel were found or reported. The fire appears accidental, possibly

from a cigarette in a bedroom, but the fire is under investigation. Burke

County REACT assisted Public Safety personnel at the scene.

Burke Filings  

Two more candidates filed Thursday at the Burke County Board of

Elections Office. Joyce Karn filed  for Town of Rhodhiss Town Commissioner

and Gregory Peck filed for Town of Rutherford College Council Member.

Thirteen people have filed for various offices since last Friday.

Criminal Court Moved  

The Clerk’s Office reports that Burke County Criminal District Court

has moved back to the courthouse – Courtroom 2.

DWI and Narcotic Arrest  

A Marion man faces DWI and Narcotic charges after an arrest Thursday

Night at the Morganton Walmart. Public Safety was dispatched about

8:30 for a report of a cardiac arrest. The suspect, Phillip Edwards, was

Allegedly passed out behind the wheel due to drugs and the vehicle

Was squealing tires in front of the Pharmacy entrance, only stopped by

the pylons protecting the entrance doors. PSO’s reportedly located

suspected Fentanyl, syringes and other drug paraphernalia while Edwards

was taken to the hospital. He was given a custody release and given an

October 18th court appearance.

 

Vaccines Pushed

The State Department of Health and Human services is urging all unvaccinated North Carolinians to get a COVID-19 vaccine; as cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have been inching up across the state.

Health officials report more of the state’s residents are going to emergency departments with COVID-like symptoms, while the more dangerous Delta variant is rapidly spreading throughout the state and across the US.

The CDC has classified the Delta variant as a variant of concern in that it spreads faster, and studies indicate an increased risk of hospitalization for people infected with it.

A news release reports more than 99-percent of new cases in NC have occurred in those not fully vaccinated.

To date, more than 150 million Americans have been vaccinated.

State residents can visit myspot.nc.gov to find a vaccine location.

NC Health Secretary Mandy Cohen says serious illness, hospitalization, death, and long-term effects from COVID-19 are preventable with vaccines.

Scam Letter

The Burke County Tax office reports a scam letter is being circulated among county residents.

A news release says some citizens have reported receiving the suspicious letter in the mail that appears to have originated from the Burke County Tax Office.

The fraudulent letter claims that a notice has been issued against the recipient because of a lien filing due to an unpaid tax liability.

It then directs the recipient to call an 800 number to resolve the alleged issue.

Local officials confirm the letter is a scam and did not originate from the Burke Tax office.

Never give your personal information to strangers over the phone, and residents can always verify any tax letters received by mail by calling the Burke County tax office at 828-764-9430.

Lincoln Co Officer Investigated

NC’s SBI is investigating a former Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant in connection with a May drive-by shooting.

Reports say Justin Frye is currently under investigation at the request of the Newton Police Department in Catawba County.

Frye, reports say, was fired in June after SBI investigators contacted Lincoln County authorities about the case.

Previous reports say the early morning shooting last May occurred at the home of Kysa Frye who was married to the former officer Justin Frye’s brother Christopher; although the couple had filed for divorce.

Home surveillance video at Kysa Frye’s home shows someone in an older model Ford SUV drive in front of her house, fire two shots toward a car parked nearby, and then drive away.

Additional video footage showed Justin Frye driving up and down his sister-in-law’s street revving the engine in a jeep.

Reports state Frye admits to driving his jeep in front of the residence, but claims he did not fire the shots in the May incident.

Christopher Frye was arrested in early May according to reports for repeatedly violating a domestic violence protective order.

Rutherfordton Missing

A Silver Alert has also been issued for a missing Rutherfordton man last seen leaving his workplace Wednesday.

Reports say 77-year-old Bob Havens was observed leaving work around 3 Wednesday afternoon at Touchstone Fine Cabinetry in Rutherfordton.

Havens is driving a red Chrysler Crossfire with NC tag TPN-6004.

Authorities report he was last seen in York County traveling toward Charlotte.

Havens is white with hazel eyes, gray hair, and is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs around 128 pounds.

Officials say Havens takes medication for dementia.

Anyone having information about Havens whereabouts should call the Rutherfordton Police Department at 828-287-5062.

 

 

 

 

Morganton Filing

Filing for the City of Morganton council seats will begin at Noon July 26^th.

Open seats up for election are in District 3, currently held by incumbent Chris Hawkins; and in District 4 presently held by incumbent Wendy Cato.

Filing will end at Noon August 13^th.

Hickory FD Scam

Phone scammers are attempting to solicit funds on the behalf of the Hickory Fire Department.

A news release states Hickory Fire ‘is not and does not’ solicit funds for fire safety programs.

The release further states the only fundraiser Hickory Fire participates in each year is the Christmas Bikes for Tykes program through the Catawba County Christmas Bureau and Salvation Army.

Department officials have recently received questions regarding a telephone campaign fundraiser to allegedly benefit Hickory Fire.

Citizens are urged to check the validity of any solicitation related to the Hickory Fire department by calling 323-7420.

Shelby Theft

A man is accused of stealing a car and crashing into a Shelby mall in a robbery attempt Tuesday.

Shelby Police reports say Travis Tuder stole an Audi from a Cleveland County car lot, drove to the mall, and crashed through the glass door entrance.

Video surveillance, reports say, show the suspect getting out of the car, and immediately getting back inside the vehicle to ram through another entrance at Kay Jewelers.

Cameras again showed Tuder breaking glass cases, and getting back into the car and leaving with more than 100-thousand dollars worth of merchandise.

Authorities stopped Tuder in the stolen vehicle following the incident near the mall.

Reports say Tuder confessed to the crime.

He was jailed without bond.

 

 

Inmate Back in Custody  

A Burke County Jail inmate is back in custody after being mistakenly

released. Around 8:45 p.m.Friday, 27-year-old Vance Edward Hinson

Junior, responded to the name of another inmate and the jail’s

protocol was not followed, which allowed the release, according to

the Burke County Sheriff’s Office. About 35 minutes later, the jail notified

supervisors about what had occurred and a message was sent to law

enforcement agencies within a 100-mile radius. About 1:50 p.m.

Tuesday, Hinson was located in the attic at 5964 Jenkins Road, Morganton,

by the Sheriff’s Office. The U.S.Marshal’s Service assisted the Burke

County Sheriff’s Office in the case.

Man Charged with Assault  

A man is arrested after a shooting early on July 4^th. The Burke County

Sheriff’s Office responded about 5 a.m.Sunday, to 8664 Cedar Street in

Connelly Springs and were advised about drug use and an altercation

involving three males and a female, who was reportedly held against

her will at gun point. Prior to 5 a.m.55-year-old Keith Wayne Sumlin shot

Timothy Alan Hyler with a shotgun, striking him in the head. Hyler was

taken by helicopter to a med center with his condition unknown.

Sumlin was taken into custody under a $150,000 secured bond.

Three More Filings in Burke County  

The Burke County Board of Elections Office reported three additional

filings on Tuesday. They were Dennis Anthony – Town of Drexel Alderman,

Shelia Perkins – Town of Glen Alpine Alderman and Gary McClure – Town

of Rutherford College Mayor. That brings the total filings to six since Friday.

Break-In Suspect Captured  

A break-in suspect faces multiple charges in McDowell County. A Davistown

Road resident reported to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office that someone broke into his home three times, on April 3rd, 5th, and 9th. 25-year-old

David Lee Carver of Old Fort, who was reportedly caught on camera at the

residence, was found in possession of some of the property when detectives

questioned him.

 

 Filing Begins in Burke County  

Filing began Friday at the Burke County Board of Elections Office with

three candidates filing. They included Jeffrey Beck – Connelly Springs

Alderman, Jason Miller  - Glen Alpine Alderman and Zachary Cagle -

Rutherford College Council Member. Their filing will end on July 16^th

at noon, for these municipalities that do not file by district or ward.

Up for filing are seats in Connelly Springs, Drexel, Glen Alpine, Hildebran,

Rutherford College, Rhodhiss. Other municipalities begin filing on

July 26^th at noon and will end on August 13^th at noon for those

municipalities that do file by district or wards. This also includes the

Burke County Board of Education, Morganton and Valdese. 

Burke COVID-19  

Burke County reported 10, 443 cumulative positive cases of COVID-19

on Monday. If you are interested in getting a COVID-19 vaccine, you can

go to www.myspot.nc.gov and find locations in Burke and surrounding

counties to schedule an appointment. You can also call the Burke County

Health Department at 764-9150 and dial 0 to speak with the operator and

they will assist you.

PACT July 

The Hickory Police Department’s July traffic enforcement – Pay Attention

in City Traffic – will be located in the 600 block to 1000 block of 2^nd Avenue SW.

Enforcement will focus on following too closely, distracted driving, speeding,

and other traffic violations.

 

COVID Update

Nineteen new cases of COVID-19 in Burke County since Monday as reported by public health officials for a total of 10-thousand-438.

Figures show 145 cases are reported to be active, with currently no hospitalizations in Burke.

Caldwell County reports 13 new cases of the virus for a total of 9-thousand-633.

2 in Caldwell are in the hospital.

Catawba County saw 15 additional COVID cases bringing the county total to 19-thousand-447.

Catawba County has 8 residents still in the hospital.

McDowell County Friday reported 5 new cases for a total of 5-thousand-206.

23 in McDowell remain in quarantine.

Car Thief

An investigation into a reported car theft led McDowell County law enforcement to a Marion woman.

On May 31^st, a Marion resident reported that someone had stolen her 2008 Nissan Altima from a residence on Zebell Road in Nebo.

Evidence led officers to 39-year-old Heather Nichole Taylor of Westwood Chateau Drive.

Taylor was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen goods.

The vehicle was recovered.

NCHP Presence

We’re officially into the 4^th of July holiday weekend and the NC Highway Patrol is reminding everyone to keep it safe on the road and on the water.

A pair of campaigns urges drivers to look for extra checkpoints on the roadways during the Independence Day weekend.

Operation Firecracker runs through Sunday July 4^th with law enforcement agencies running sobriety checkpoints in all 100 counties to catch drunk drivers and reduce the number of deaths on NC roads.

The state patrol’s Booze It and Lose It campaign that began 26 years ago will run in conjunction with Operation Firecracker.

Law enforcement officials encourage anyone who drinks to not operate a motor vehicle, whether it is a car or a boat.

They say make good decisions to save a life – it could be your own.

So far this year, reports show at least 145 people have died in alcohol and drug-related crashes in NC.