The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office.   All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 
 
Sheriff Vic Davis in a press release today said that his investigators received a call from the Maggie Valley Police Department that officers there had arrested two individuals and charged them with being felons and having in their possession two firearms.  
 
Davis said that the two men told police in Maggie Valley that they had broken into a home near the Shooting Creek bridge.  That was the only directions the men could give.  However a female in the car told officers they had gone into her uncle’s house and the house that had been broken into was next to her uncle’s.  Investigators were able to locate the house that had been broken into by locating the uncles’ house.

Davis said that once the house was located, it was obvious that the house had been burglarized.  The garage door was left partially open, and other doors in the house were either unlocked or left open.  Items in the house were strewn about by the burglars in an effort to locate items of value.

​An investigator traveled to Haywood Co. the next day, according to the sheriff, accompanied by the owner/victim who identified items in the suspect’s car as being his.
 
An investigator was able to get detailed statements from the suspects as to their alleged involvement in the burglary, according to the sheriff.
 
Arrested in the incident was Robert Lee Messer who resides in Waynesville, NC, along with Joseph Inman from Canton, NC.

Crystal Lee Early, also of Canton, was also charged in the incident.  It is not known if Early has been arrested at press time.  
 
Each suspect was charged in Clay County with Breaking and Entering and Larceny as well as two counts of theft of a firearm.  

Most of the items stolen in the house have been retrieved, photographed and returned to the rightful owner.
 
The investigation is continuing and more charges are possible as the three may be charged with breaking into the Early’s uncle’s house.

The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.   All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Murphy, NC — Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the May 28th, 2017 arrest of Dallas Wayne Carringer, a 25-year-old Murphy, NC man for charges stemming from two separate attacks.  

At about 5:30 pm on May 27th, 2017 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for service in the Hiawassee Dam Community of Cherokee County to investigate a report of an individual who had been shot. While units were going to the scene of the reported shooting, information was learned that the victim was in a privately owned vehicle headed to the hospital. Officers with Murphy Police Department assisted by transporting to the victim to Murphy Medical Center where she was later transferred to a trauma unit and remains in stable condition.

During the investigation, information was discovered that during the incident, several rounds were discharged into the residence which was occupied by another adult and a small child. As the investigation continued, Carringer was identified as the suspect involved in the shooting. Warrants were sworn charging Carringer with the assaults. Information was broadcast via various media outlets and through the National Criminal Information Center detailing wants for Carringer and a grey late model Dodge 4x4 pickup truck which is believed to have a second suspect in the alleged incident.

At about 2:15 pm on May 28, 2017, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to an address in the Culberson community to investigate a report that Carringer had stabbed a family member. As Deputies arrived at the residence, Carringer was arrested a short distance from the scene of the stabbing. Carringer was taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center. The victim was taken to Murphy Medical Center where they are listed in stable condition. 

Carringer is currently in custody at the Cherokee County Detention Center and is charged with two counts of Assault With a Deadly Weapon With Intent To Kill, One Count of Assault With a Deadly Weapon With Intent To Kill Inflicting Serious Injury, One Count of Discharging a Firearm into a Dwelling. Carringer has no bond at the time of this press release.
 
Sheriff Palmer stated, “We are anticipating additional charges and continue to investigate this incident. I would like to thank all the public safety agencies, both paid and volunteer, who worked so diligently on this matter.”

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.  ​

The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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On Thursday May 18, 2017, Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped William Dean Moss for a traffic violation on Highway 64 West in Hayesville.
 
Sheriff Vic Davis said probable cause was developed to search the vehicle where several Adderall pills were located. Moss was already out on bond for possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia stemming from a May 11 incident.
 
Moss was arrested and charged with Felony Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He has already made a $6,000 bond and has a May 25 court date.

The following press release has been issued by Clay Clay County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

On Tuesday May 16, 2017, Clay County Sheriff Deputies responded to Possum Holler Trail in Brasstown in reference to an Assault.
 
Sheriff Davis said when deputies arrived they discovered a man bleeding from the head. Upon further investigation deputies discovered that the apparent victim and suspect of this incident have had previous disputes. The victim in this incident was flown to Erlanger in Chattanooga where his condition is unknown at this time, but had been critical. 
 
Sheriff Davis said this incident is still under investigation so other information should be forthcoming in the days to come, but at this time the suspect as been arrested. Ryan Whittaker, 35 of Brasstown, was arrested and charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury. He has already made a $20,000 bond and has a May 25 court date.

Misting rain gave way to a beautiful pink-streaked sunset as the procession of Tri-County Community College’s class of 2017 streamed outside to unite with friends and loved ones following the annual commencement ceremony on May 12 on the main campus in Peachtree.

Dr. Donna Tipton Rogers, president of TCCC, began the evening by congratulating the graduates on reaching this point in their educational career.

“Tonight is about you and your accomplishments,” said Tipton-Rogers, gesturing to the room, overflowing with guests and loved ones. “No matter whether you continue your educational journey or join the workforce, I want you to know that Tri-County Community College will always be here for you.”

Several annual faculty and staff awards were also given during the event, all nominated by faculty, staff and students. Deb Hogan, Steve Browning and Joan Ledford each received the Excellence in Teaching Award; Gloria Dockery was given the adjunct faculty Excellence in Teaching Award; and Charlene Wood, assistant to the president for Graham County operations, received the Excellence in Staff Award.

More than 170 students graduated from the college, with more than 180 credentials being conferred at the ceremony.

“This is an incredible group of dedicated and hardworking students,” Tipton-Rogers said. “Every day we strive to give our students the very best we can offer so that they, in turn, can help enrich the communities in which we all live, and this year’s graduates will exemplify that ideal.”

In an emotional high school equivalency graduation the following day, May 13, students gained the opportunity to speak about their experience at TCCC.

“I came back to school after 21 years,” said Jennifer Marescalo, graduate of the high school equivalency program, with tears in her eyes as she thanked each of her peers at the ceremony. “There were days that I wanted to give up and you each inspired me to continue. If I can do this, then the sky is the limit for anyone.”

Dr. Tipton-Rogers addressed the graduates’ struggles and their triumphs.

“No matter the struggles you faced, you each chose to come back and finish your education – for yourselves, your parents, your children, or even your friends – and we are so honored to have traveled this journey with you,” she said.

For more information about Tri-County Community College, please call (828) 837-6810.

The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

On Thursday May 11, 2017, Clay County Sheriff’s Investigators stopped a Toyota Camry on Lance Cove Road. Sheriff Vic Davis said, during this encounter a K-9 was deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle was conducted where methamphetamine and hydrocodone were discovered.
 
Both subjects in the vehicle were arrested. William Dean Moss, 50, and Michelle Diane Moss, 58, both of Hayesville, were charged with Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both received a $20,000 bond and remain in the Clay County Detention Center with a May 15, 2017 court date.

The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
 
On Thursday May 11, 2017, around 4:30 AM, a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to McDonald Road in reference to a suspicious person and damage to property. Apparently a man had driven through a yard and gotten stuck and asked the home owner to park the vehicle there. The home owner told the man to leave and called 911.
 
Sheriff Davis said when the deputy arrived he was unable to locate anyone but did discover where the yard was torn up and a section of chain link fence had been torn down. Given the proximity to Towns County, GA, the deputy thought it might have had something to do with a chase Towns County had been in this same night. They chased a red in color Corvette for unknown reason but had not been able to stop it.
 
Shortly after 6:00 AM, the same deputy observed red in color Corvette on Tusquittee Road. The Corvette had front end damage, so the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle to investigate. The vehicle was stopped at Tusquitte Tavern, but pulled away when the deputy approached. The vehicle then went to the Cold Branch Church and stopped again, but sped away once more when the deputy approached. The deputy followed the vehicle down Cold Branch Road at slow speeds, where it turned up CJ Lane. The vehicle again attempted to get away by driving through yards and cutting through a field but was eventually blocked in by other responding deputies.
 
Sheriff Davis said it turned out that the Corvette was stolen out of Lakeland, GA. The driver, Shane Rashford, 22 of Valdosta, GA, was arrested and charged with Felony Flee to Elude Arrest, Felony Possession of Stolen Goods, DWI and Reckless Driving to Endanger. He is currently being held in the Clay County Detention Center under a $45,000 bond. Rashford has an extensive criminal history including time in prison.

U.S. Air Force Airman Dalton Anderson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Anderson is the son of Terrie and Daniel Muzik of Murphy, N.C.

​He is a 2015 graduate of Murphy High School, Murphy, N.C.