MURPHY, N.C.— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the Feb. 16, 2018, arrest of 19-year-old Alicia Madison Brooks, of Blairsville, Georgia, 32-year-old Benjamin Dann Owens, of Blairsville, Georgia, and 20-year-old Jordan Taylor Hensley, also of Blairsville, Georgia, for violations of the controlled substance statute and violation of various weapon statutes.

On Feb. 16, 2018, a narcotics detective observed a vehicle make an illegal U-turn on U.S. 64 east near the town limits of Murphy. The narcotics detective followed the vehicle and made a traffic stop in which the vehicle was occupied by Brooks, Owens and Hensley. After the driver of the vehicle refused consent to search the vehicle, the narcotics K-9 was used and alerted the presence of illegal narcotics.

During the search of the occupants of the vehicle, syringes and other paraphernalia was located. Additionally, officers located a semi-automatic pistol along with a rifle that appeared to have a silencer on it in the passenger area of the vehicle. During the stop, information was located that Owens was a convicted felon.

Alicia Madison Brooks was brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center and booked for: MAINTAIN PLACE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER, SIMPLE POSSESS SCH VI CS. Brooks was later released on a unsecure bond after appearing in Cherokee County District Court Feb. 19.

Benjamin Dann Owens was brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where a small amount of suspected methamphetamine was found secreted on him. Owens remains incarcerated on a $15,000 secure bond on the following charges: POSSESS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PRISON/JAIL PREMISSES, POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON, PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE.

Jordan Taylor Hensley was arrested and charged with RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER. Hensley posted a $1,000 secure bond. Sheriff Palmer stated, “Again good work by all concerned. The mixture of illegal drugs and firearms, especially by convicted felons, makes for a dangerous situation!”

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 [email protected].