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 arrest of 53-year-old Maria De Los Angeles Brickman, a part year resident of Cherokee County, North Carolina for Murder. 

Shortly after 10:30 pm on August 26, 2015, Cherokee County Communications received a call for assistance at a Hothouse community address where the caller stated there was a domestic dispute and that the male party had been shot. 

Upon arrival at the residence, the 70-year-old husband of Maria De Los Angeles Brickman was found suffering injuries from an apparent gunshot wound. Lifesaving measures were started by Cherokee County EMS personnel and Mr. Brickman was transported initially to Copper Basin Medical Center and then later airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee where he succumbed to his wounds in the early morning hours of August 27, 2015.

During the investigation information became apparent that there had been an argument between Maria De Los Angles Brickman and her husband. Further during the altercation, Brickman’s husband suffered the gunshot wound.  

Maria De Los Angles Brickman, who provided a permanent address in Fort Myers, Florida, was booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center where she is currently being held under no bond on charges of Assault With A Deadly Weapon With Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury and Murder. Brickman is scheduled to appear in Cherokee County District Court on September 2, 2015.

Sheriff Palmer would like to thank Cherokee County EMS, Wolf Creek Fire Department, the District Attorney's Office, and the State Bureau of Investigations for their assistance in this investigation.

To report crime in Cherokee County, call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

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

On Thursday night, August 20th, 2015, the Towns County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Kerby Road in Young Harris, Georgia around 9:40 pm in reference to an armed robbery / home invasion.   The victims provided descriptions of the suspects as well as the vehicle.  The victims advised that the suspects were armed with a handgun.

Towns County deputies along with an officer from the Hiawassee Police Department spotted the suspect vehicle at a business on Highway 76 in Hiawassee.  The vehicle was occupied by three subjects who fit the description provided by the victims.
 
The three suspects were taken into custody without incident.  Sheriff’s Office Investigators arrested the following suspects in reference to the reported robbery: 

Steven Mathew Anderson, age 28, of Hiawassee, Georgia, charged with one (1) count of Armed Robbery and one (1) count of Burglary;

Jerry Laverne Alferink, age 36, of Hiawassee, Georgia, charged with one (1) count of Armed Robbery and one (1) count of Burglary;

Kathryn Savannah Mumpower, age 22, of Hiawassee, Georgia, charged with one (1) count of Armed Robbery and one (1) count of Burglary.

The case remains under investigation and is ongoing.  At press time, no bond had been set for the three suspects.  Additional charges are likely. 

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 arrest of 46-year-old Jeffrey Scott Dobbs, a Brasstown, North Carolina man on charges involving the growing of marijuana.

In a joint investigation involving the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Murphy Police Department, Dobbs became a person of interest in a stalking case. 

Investigators with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of Dobbs' Brasstown residence and found a marijuana grow both inside and outside the residence.  Marijuana plants, along with other items used in the growing of marijuana, were seized as well as a computer and a gaming system.

Dobbs was taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center where he was served warrants for Manufacture of Schedule VI Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Dwelling Place for the Manufacture of Controlled Substances and Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia. Dobbs was placed under a $20,000 secure bond and is expected to be in Cherokee County District Court on September 2, 2015.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “We are making strides in combating illegal drug use and abuse in Cherokee County. We will continue to work with our local law enforcement partners such as the stalking case which is still ongoing.”

To report crime in Cherokee County, you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

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— On August 14, 2015, shortly before midnight, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was called to a residence in the Hothouse Community to investigate a loud party. Upon arriving at the scene, about 60 people were observed to be around a bonfire.  As law enforcement was arriving, several of the individuals ran into the wooded area adjacent to the residence.

During the investigation of the incident, several containers of beer, moonshine, hard liquor, along with edible cannabis (marijuana), were found near the campfire and in various vehicles at the party. As the investigation continued, several of the individuals present at the party were found to be as young as 14 years of age, some of which were from other states.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “We are continuing to investigate this incident and identify individuals involved in this. I would like to caution people that edible cannabis or candy marijuana, as some like to call, it is a very dangerous way to ingest marijuana. Oftentimes, the affects do not become apparent for up to 30 minutes and people often take more feeling that one didn’t do the trick.  Besides it is still illegal in North Carolina.”

To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

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. 

Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the August 10th, 2015 arrest of 37-year-old Billy Dale Crisp for violations of North Carolina Controlled Substance Laws. 

In a joint operation with federal agencies, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office investigators and officers of the Andrews Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle which Crisp was occupying. The nature of the stop was to apprehend a female who had outstanding federal charges on her and was known to be in the vehicle. 

During the traffic stop, a search of the vehicle that Crisp had been occupying was conducted and a quantity of Methamphetamine was located and seized. 

Crisp was taken to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office where he was charged with Felony Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The North Carolina Magistrate then set a $5,000 bond. Crisp was released after being booked. He is expected to be in Cherokee County District Court on August 19th, 2015. 

Sheriff Palmer stated, “We continue to work hand in hand with local, state and federal agencies to combat drug abuse and distribution in Cherokee County. The female, whom federal authorities have custody of will have charges waiting for her upon her release.” 

To report crime in Cherokee County, call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress. 

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— Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the August 9th, 2015 arrest of 33-year-old Andrea Natesha Anderson Smith for violations of breaking into a residence in Cherokee County. 

On August 9th, 2015 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint that Anderson was going to break into and remove items from a Peachtree Community residence. Upon arriving at the scene, the Cherokee County deputy was able to locate Anderson coming out of the house. Following an on scene investigation, the deputy arrested Anderson for breaking into the residence. 

Anderson was taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center where the North Carolina Magistrate set a $5,000 unsecure bond. Anderson was released after being booked. She is expected to be in Cherokee County District Court on August 19th, 2015. 

Sheriff Palmer stated, “This was some good work by the responding deputy sheriff. His quick response prevented any items being taken from the residence.” 

To report crime in Cherokee County, call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

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

On Friday, August 7, 2015, Towns County Sheriff's Office responded to a domestic violence-related incident in Young Harris.  The suspect was reported to have brandished a knife and threatened his girlfriend and had fled the scene.   The suspect was, at that time, reported to have been last seen in the area of Young Harris Apartments.  Deputies secured the area until one of Towns County's K-9 teams could arrive at the location. 

In the interim, Sheriff Clinton, Captain Conner, and detectives began the investigative process and notified Young Harris College Campus Police that the suspect was in the area.   It was determined that the subject was wanted on felony drug warrants out of Cobb and Dekalb Counties.  Within minutes of investigating, the suspect’s cell phone was pinged in the area of Blairsville, GA.  After determining that the subject had received a ride out of the area from an unsuspecting couple, the investigation turned to locating the suspect. 

With the assistance of Helen Police Department, the suspect was taken into custody early Saturday morning, while attempting to meet someone at Huddle House in Helen, White County, GA.  The suspect was transported to the White County jail.  The suspect has since been transported to Towns County Detention Center to face charges in Towns County. 

The suspect, Christian Alexander Brown, age 23, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged with Battery, Interference of a 911 call, and Terroristic Threats and Acts.