CHEROKEE COUNTY MAN ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING AND STRANGLING FEMALE

Murphy, NC— Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the October 16^th, 2015 arrest of 53 year old Murphy North Carolina man, Kenneth James Laney on charges aggravated assault charges.

On or about October 11, 2015 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s  Office received a complaint from a female that she had been  assaulted by being strangled, held against her will as well as  being assaulted with a knife. During the short investigation the  responding Deputy Sheriff determined that the victim and  Laney had been involved in a relationship. The Deputy provided  the information to the North Carolina Magistrate who issued  warrants for Assault By Strangulation, Kidnapping Second  Degree and Assault Inflicting Serious Injuries all felonies.

Laney was arrested on October 16^th, and brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where the magistrate set a $15,000.00 secure bond and set a November 17^th, 2015 court date. Laney is presently being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center.

Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at [email protected] or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

CHEROKEE COUNTY COUPLE ARRESTED ON FELONY CHILD ABUSE CHARGES

Murphy, NC— Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the October 14^th, 2015 arrest of 28 year old Sarah Ann Freeman and 29 year old Jonathan Robert Freeman both of Murphy North Carolina on true bills of indictment handed down from the October 12^th, setting of the Cherokee County Grand Jury.

On or about September 02, 2015 the Cherokee County  Sheriff’s Office received a report from the Cherokee  County Department of Social Services that a 10 week old  infant was in the hospital with broken bones and other  serious life threatening injuries. During the course of the  investigation information became known that the parents  of the child were Sarah and Jonathan Freeman. Additionally information became known that the injuries, which included broken bones and other life threatening injuries, had been inflicted during the time that the child was in the care and custody of the Freeman couple.

Both Sarah Ann Freeman and Jonathan Robert Freeman were arrested on October 14^th, and brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where the magistrate set both a $5,000.00 secure bond and a November 12^th, 2015 Superior Court date. The Freeman couple are free on bond at the time of this release.

ANDREWS WOMAN SERVED WITH ADDITIONAL CHARGES INVOLVING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Murphy, NC— Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the October 14th, 2015 arrest of 44 year old Jessica Darlene Russell of Andrews North Carolina on charges handed down from the October 12th, 2015 session of the Cherokee County Grand Jury.

On or about May 11, 2015 an Officer with the Andrews Police  Department responded to a report of a disturbance in the town  limits of Andrews. Deputies of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office  responded to the call to assist if needed. During the investigation of  the disturbance information became known that Russell was in  possession of a video which depicted a minor engaged in a sexual  act.   During the investigation additional information was discovered and that information was presented to the October Grand Jury which handed additional charges.
The bill of indictment was served on Russell and the North Carolina Magistrate set an additional $200,000.00 secure bond and set a November 9th, 2015 Superior Court Date. Russell has remains in the Cherokee County Detention Center.
Sheriff Palmer stated “We continue to aggressively pursue the predators that wage war against our children. No child should fear being exploited and abused and we intend to do our level best to protect our innocents. We are continuing to investigate this matter and feel that we will make additional arrests in the future as we work with agencies on the local, state and federal level.”
Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at [email protected] or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

CHEROKEE COUNTY MAN ARRESTED FOR HOME INVASIONS

Murphy, NC— Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the October 14^th, 2015 arrest of 40 year old Scott Jennings Cable of Topton North Carolina for charges resulting from three home invasions.

On or about October 14^th, 2015 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s  Office received a report that an adult male had been abducted at  gun point from his Marble North Carolina residence. Additional  information became known that the male victim had been  forced to drive Cable to a residence in the Caney Creek  Community of Cherokee County where Cable broke into the  residence while armed and held the residents there against their  will for a period of time and threatened the residents while  there. Cable then ended his spree by breaking into a residence in the town limits of Murphy while being armed. Units of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Murphy Police Department were able to apprehend Cable and bring him to the Cherokee County Detention Center.

Cable was charged with First Degree Burglary, Assault and Battery, Assault by Point a gun, Possession of a Firearm by Felon, Resisting Public Officer. Cable is currently being detained under a $65,000.00 bond and is scheduled to appear in Cherokee County District Court on November 17^th, 2015.

Sheriff Palmer stated “I want to commend all the law enforcement officers both from my agency and from Murphy Police Department on their swift handling of this very dangerous situation. This is but another incident which is linked back to the illegal use of controlled substances. We are continuing to investigate this incident and expect additional charges to come out of that investigation.”

Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at [email protected] or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

Sheriff Palmer stated “These cases are very difficult but the team effort that my office and the Cherokee County Department of Social Services took helped bring these parents to justice. My Office will aggressively pursue anyone who exploits and harms our children.”