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Traffic Stop and Search Nets Two Drug Traffickers

Featured News, Featured Stories, Press Release December 23, 2021 , by
Murphy, NC—The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office reports the December 21, 2021 arrest of 42 year old Barron Jermel Sudderth and 49 year old Tommy Vaughn Dockery Jr both of Murphy North Carolina for violations of the North Carolina Controlled Substances Statutes.
A week long investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office culminated in a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by Sudderth and Dockery. During a probable cause search of the vehicle occupied by Sudderth and Dockery a trafficking amount of suspected heroin and fentanyl, suspected methamphetamine, a handgun and ammunition and was seized.
Narcotic investigators then executed a search warrant on the residence of Sudderth, which is in a public housing area of Murphy North Carolina. During that search of Sudderth’s residence additional weapons and ammunition were seized. Both Sudderth and Dockery have previous convictions and are prohibited by North Carolina statutes of possessing firearms.
Baron Jermel Sudderth is incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center for: TRAFFICKING IN OPIUM OR HEROIN X 2, PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE, MAINTAIN a PLACE FOR USE/POSSESSION of CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. Sudderth is under a $150,000.00 secure bond and has a January 13, 2022 Cherokee County District Court date.
Tommy Vaughn Dockery Jr is incarcerated in the Cherokee Detention Center for: TRAFFICKING IN OPIUM OR HEROIN X 2, and PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE. Dockery is under a $150,000.00 secure bond and has a January 13, 2022 Cherokee County District Court date.
Chief Deputy Joe Wood stated “This operation located at least a mid-level amount of Heroin and Fentanyl and firearms in a public housing area in the residence of one of the charged individuals. This definitely was a recipe for disaster had a child discovered even a small amount of these deadly drugs or had gotten possession of a loaded firearm. We are not resting on this one and will continue to go up the food chain to work to stem the flow of illegal drugs in Cherokee County. As always we continue to appreciate the public’s assistance in this and all of our cases.”
To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law please call 828-837-1344 or submit a tip at [email protected].

Concerned Citizen Tip Nets Arrest for Trafficking in Heroin

Press Release November 8, 2021 , by
CONCERNED CITIZEN TIP NETS ARREST FOR TRAFFICKING IN HEROIN
Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the November 06, 2021 arrest of Richard Glenn Scroggs, a 37 year old male who listed a Hayesville, North Carolina address, for violations of controlled laws of the North Carolina General Statutes.
On November 06, 2021 a concerned citizen called in a report of unconscious male in a motor vehicle in the Upper Peachtree area of Cherokee County. Deputies responded to the reported location and found Scroggs in an apparent unconscious state. Upon knocking on the window Scroggs became awake. Cherokee County Emergency Services were called to the scene and offered medical assistance to which Scroggs refused.
Located in plain view inside the vehicle Scorggs had been occupying, were articles which are commonly associated with the illegal use of controlled substances. A probable cause search of the vehicle located a trafficking amount of suspected heroin along with items normally associated with the illegal sale and delivery of controlled substances.
Scroggs was taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center where the North Carolina Magistrate issued orders of arrest for: Trafficking in Opium or Heroin, Possession With The Intent to Manufacture, Sell or Deliver Schedule I controlled substances, Possession of Schedule I Controlled Substances, Maintaining a Place Controlled Substance and Possess Drug Paraphernalia. The North Carolina Magistrate placed Scroggs under a $50,000.00 secure bond. Scroggs is scheduled to be in Cherokee County District Court November 23, 2021 at 9 AM.
Sheriff Derrick Palmer stated “Good work by our Uniformed Deputies not only in preventing the illegal distribution of these deadly drugs but summoning medical assistance to ensure the safety and welfare of suspect. We thank our concerned citizens for their support and encourage continued reporting of this and all crimes.”
To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law please call 828-837-1344 or submit a tip at [email protected].

Cherokee man plead guilty to drug trafficking and breaking and entering

Business September 29, 2021 , by
drug trafficking

MURPHY, NC – A Cherokee County man will spend more than a decade in prison after admitting to five criminal charges, including breaking and entering, trafficking and possessing illegal drugs.

Marble resident Travis Timpson, 41, plead guilty in Cherokee County Superior County Court last month.

The charges included second-degree burglary, breaking and entering, possess schedule II controlled substance, conspiracy to sell and deliver, and Level E trafficking.

North Carolina ensures drug trafficking convictions have some of the harshest penalties in the state. The mandatory minimum is set based on drug type and weight.

Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Bill Coward handed down the requisite sentence of 90 months and ordered Timpson to pay a $100,000 fine. 470 days of pre-trial confinement were credited toward Timpson’s sentence.

The trafficking and burglary charges were consolidated for sentencing, as were the charges of possession, conspiracy to sell and deliver, and breaking and entering. The latter carried an active sentence to be served consecutively to the first sentence.

Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Harris prosecuted the case.

Fannin County man arrested for drug trafficking in North Carolina

News, Press Release June 16, 2021 , by

Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the May 18, 2021 arrest of 29-year-old Cecil Jessy Cable, of Fannin County Georgia for charges stemming for violations of the North Carolina Controlled Substances statutes.

On May 18, 2021 Detectives with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on vehicle occupied by Cable. During the traffic stop the detectives developed probable cause and conducted a search of the vehicle operated by Cable. During the search of the vehicle a trafficking amount of methamphetamine was seized.

Cable was arrested and is currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center under a $215,000.00 secure bond for Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, or Deliver Controlled substances. Cable was also arrested for two Failure To Appear charges from a previous arrest. Cable has made his initial appearance in Cherokee County District Court.

Sheriff Derrick Palmer stated “We continue our struggle in fighting the drugs that are coming into Cherokee County. Each arrest helps in that fight as well as information provided from our community.”

To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law please call 828-837-1344 or submit a tip at [email protected].

Armed Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison

News, Press Release October 28, 2020 , by
Armed Methamphetamine Trafficking
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray announced that Christopher Price, 43, of Turtletown, Tennessee, was sentenced to 180 months in prison on drug trafficking and firearms offenses. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. also ordered Price to serve five years under court supervision upon completion of his prison term.
According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, in September 2018, law enforcement in Cherokee County became aware that Price was trafficking methamphetamine. On September 11, 2018, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Price’s vehicle, during which they seized methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. Court records show that, on September 14, 2018, law enforcement conducted a second traffic stop of Price, who had been released on bond on State charges, during which they seized additional methamphetamine. Then, on January 16, 2019, law enforcement were dispatched to a residence in Murphy to check on a suspicious parked vehicle. When law enforcement located the vehicle, they observed Price, who had been released again on bond on State charges, asleep at the wheel with a shotgun on his lap. Law enforcement arrested Price and seized the shotgun, which was loaded, a second loaded firearm, and methamphetamine that they located in the vehicle. Court records show that, over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized from Price more than 17 ounces of highly pure methamphetamine and three loaded firearms.
On July 24, 2020, Price pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the DEA, the ATF, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their coordination and assistance throughout the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.

Three arrested on trafficking heroin charges

News, Police & Government, Press Release February 28, 2020 , by

MURPHY, N.C. – Cherokee County, N.C. Sheriff Derrick Palmer reported the Feb. 28, 2020 arrest of three individuals violations of North Carolina Controlled Substances Act including trafficking of heroin and cocaine possession.

The three allegedly responsible are Waylon Douglas Carswell,45, of Murphy, James Terry Sawyers,67, of Marble, N.C., and Marcia Elaine Weeks, 38, of Murphy.

Acting on information that individuals were illegally transporting and distributing transporting large quantities of heroin into Cherokee County, N.C., an investigation was conducted by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).

At about 1:30 a.m., investigators and deputies conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. During the traffic stop, the CCSO K-9 was utilized, which resulted in a positive indication for the presence of controlled substances. A search of the vehicle uncovered over 50 grams of heroin, a small amount of crack cocaine, a firearm, and U.S. currency. CCSO seized these items.

James Terry Sawyers

James Terry Sawyers was brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where he was placed on a $500,000.00 secure bond for TRAFFICKING IN OPIUM OR HEROIN, CONSPIRE TO TRAFFIC IN OPIUM/HEROIN, FELONY POSSESSION OF COCAINE, MAINTAIN PLACE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. Sawyer’s first appearance is scheduled for March 5, 2020, in Cherokee County District Court.

Waylan Douglas Carswell was brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where he was placed on a $250,000.00 secure bond for TRAFFICKING IN OPIUM OR HEROIN, CONSPIRE TRAFFIC OPIUM/HEROIN, FELONY POSSESSION OF COCAINE. Carswell’s first appearance is scheduled for March 5, 2020, in Cherokee County District Court.

Waylan Douglas Carswell

Marcia Elaine Weeks was brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where she was placed on a $250,000.00 secure bond for TRAFFICKING IN OPIUM OR HEROIN, CONSPIRE TO TRAFFIC IN OPIUM/HEROIN, FELONY POSSESSION OF COCAINE, SIMPLE POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE III CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, SIMPLE POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE IV CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. Weeks’ first appearance is scheduled for March 5, 2020, in Cherokee County District Court.

Marcia Elaine Weeks

Sheriff Palmer said “Good work picking up the lead and following through with the information which took some very bad drugs off the streets. We are continuing this matter to wherever it leads. Our new K9 made its first detection and we anticipate continued success with the new addition to the Sheriff’s Office.”

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