Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Announces Arrests in Investigation into Theft and Damage to Communication Lines

CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is announcing arrests in connection with an ongoing investigation into the cutting and theft of communication lines from utility poles in the western portion of Cherokee County.

On June 12, 2026, and again on June 16, 2026, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received several reports of wire being cut and removed from power poles in the far western end of Cherokee County. Investigators immediately began working to identify those responsible and determine the extent of the criminal activity.

As the investigation progressed, investigators determined that the incidents extended beyond Cherokee County and involved locations in Polk County, Tennessee, and Fannin County, Georgia. Investigators developed leads and gathered sufficient probable cause to charge three individuals in connection with the investigation.

Those charged are:

• Perry Chinn — Injury to Public Property. Chinn was arrested on June 22, 2026.
• Andrew Morrow — Injury to Public Property. Morrow was arrested on June 23, 2026.
• Isaac Scarlett (Not pictured)— Injury to Public Property. Scarlett is currently being held at the Gilmer County Detention Center in Georgia pending extradition to Cherokee County.
•
The material being cut and removed consisted of sections of telephone and communication lines, which investigators believe were subsequently sold for scrap.

The criminal activity presented a significant danger to residents and businesses in the affected areas. Cutting these lines disrupted telephone and internet communications for numerous residents in far western Cherokee County and had the potential to interfere with access to critical communications and emergency services.

This investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed against these individuals or others as investigators continue to gather evidence and follow additional leads.

Sheriff Chris Wood commends the investigators involved in this case and the agencies in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia who have assisted with the investigation.

“This type of crime is not simply a matter of stealing material for scrap. Cutting communication lines can leave residents without telephone and internet service and can create serious safety concerns, particularly in rural areas where reliable communication is critical,” said Sheriff Chris Wood. “Our investigators have worked diligently to identify those responsible, and this investigation will continue until all available leads have been exhausted.”

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public and neighboring law-enforcement agencies for their assistance and cooperation. Anyone with information regarding these incidents or other related thefts is encouraged to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

All individuals charged are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.