PRESS RELEASE – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, VA, and Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, GA arranged the arrest of wanted fugitive Eric Jason Watkins, 50 of Murphy. Watkins had outstanding indictments in Virginia for the following: – Object Sexual Penetration (Felony) – Aggravated Sexual Battery – Indecent […]

MURPHY, N.C. — Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith has announced his resignation effective Friday, following a request from District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch citing a loss of confidence in his leadership. Cherokee County officials received Smith’s formal resignation Thursday afternoon. The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a special meeting Saturday at 4 p.m. […]

PRESS RELEASE – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, with assistance from the Criminal Investigations Division, executed a search warrant on January 20, 2026, at a residence located at 244 West Saw Mill Road in Murphy. The search warrant was the culmination of a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking activities within Cherokee County. As […]

PRESS RELEASE – We are thrilled to announce and welcome Emily Sneed as the new Principal of Hiwassee Dam Middle School! Superintendent Dr. Keevin Woody and the Cherokee County Board of Education are excited to have Emily join our team and lead Hiwassee Dam Middle School into an exciting new chapter. **Career Overview** Emily Sneed […]

PRESS RELEASE – On December 1, 2025 Deputies with Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office assisted by Officers from Andrews Police Department responded to 115 LJ Moss Ln in the Marble community. Deputies were attempting to serve a warrant for Felony Larceny on Levi Charles Moss. Upon arrival, deputies made multiple attempts to get Moss to exit […]

CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. – A Cherokee County man was taken into custody on October 31, 2025, after authorities say he led a Narcotics Agent on a vehicle pursuit that ended in a collision in the parking lot of the Old Martins Creek School. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began when the […]

CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — A two-month investigation into fentanyl trafficking in Cherokee County has led to the arrest of Ashli Shawnai Roberts, of Murphy, following a coordinated operation between North Carolina and Georgia law enforcement agencies. According to Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith, the investigation concluded on October 16, 2025, when authorities received information that […]

Cherokee County Schools Finance Director Resigns as District Continues Superintendent Search Murphy, N.C. — Leadership changes are on the horizon for Cherokee County Schools, as officials confirmed that the district’s finance director will step down in October while the search for a new superintendent remains underway. The school board announced this week that the finance […]

Murphy, N.C. — A man convicted of trafficking methamphetamine in Cherokee County has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison, prosecutors announced this week. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the sentencing followed a lengthy investigation involving local law enforcement and federal drug enforcement agencies. Authorities said the defendant played a central […]

CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC — A Peachtree community man has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of child sexual exploitation following an investigation sparked by online reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Corey Benjamin Sneed, 39, was taken into custody without incident after investigators linked him to the possession and […]

CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC – An inmate escaped after shooting a Cherokee County Detention Center Officer and wounding another while at Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital facility Monday afternoon, June 30. Cherokee County Detention Center Officer Francisco Flattes and Officer George Feinauer were transporting a Federal inmate, Kelvin Simmons to the orthopedic office when the tragedy occurred. […]

CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC – A joint operation on 05/20/2025 between the Narcotics and Patrol Divisions of Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office assist by the Narcotics Division of Clay County Sheriff’s office led to a traffic stop which resulted in four arrests and two subsequent search warrants. On May 21, 2025 a traffic stop was conducted on […]