Absconding sex offender arrested after short foot chase

MURPHY, N.C.— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the Feb. 16, 2018, arrest of 38-year-old Robert Burl Fletcher III, who listed a Gaston County, North Carolina address.

On Feb. 16, 2018, a patrol officer was dispatched to a business located on U.S. 64 west to investigate a report of individuals acting suspicious who may be involved in the illegal sale of controlled substances. The patrol officer arrived on scene and obtained identifying information from a male and female at the location. At the same time, an investigator of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office arrived to assist in the investigation. Fletcher then started fleeing from the scene and was apprehended a short distance later.

In a search incident to arrest, a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and narcotic paraphernalia was found. Fletcher is a convicted sex offender and had two active warrants from Clay and Gaston counties in North Carolina for failure to Notify Change of Address.

Robert Burl Fletcher III is currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center on the following charges POSSESS METHAMPHETAMINE, POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER. Fletcher’s bond for the Cherokee County charges is $15,000 secure. Clay and Gaston counties both have holds placed on Fletcher should he make bond.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “We cannot over stress the importance of the Sex Offender Registry laws and their importance in keeping registered offenders in compliance.”

Sheriff Palmer asks if you should have any information concerning this case or any other case to report suspicious activity and suspected violations of the law, to please call 828-837-3144 or submit a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.