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 that a joint investigation, “Operation Black Friday 2015” was conducted by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Andrews Police Department which culminated in the arrest of 16 individuals for controlled substance violations at 2135 Business 19 in Andrews, North Carolina.

The joint investigation began as a result of numerous complaints being received concerning the occupants of 2135 Business 19 in Andrews.  Additionally, information was being developed by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office that possible activity consistent with the illegal use and sale of controlled substances was taking place at the residence.  As information continued to be gathered, enough information was collected that enabled investigators to get a search warrant for the residence.

When law enforcement arrived at the residence to serve a search warrant they found:

43 year old Donovan Rickell Underwood of Robbinsville, North Carolina
38 year old Randall Edward Humphries of Andrews, North Carolina
58 year old Valerie Marie Mashburn of Andrews, North Carolina
37 year old Jennifer Jeanette Brown of Andrews, North Carolina
37 year old Jennifer Adrianne Greene of Robbinsville, North Carolina
29 year old Steven Douglas Hall of Andrews, North Carolina
21 year old Jessica Leigh Hyde of Robbinsville, North Carolina
25 year old Thomas Dakota Howard of Robbinsville, North Carolina
17 year old Steven Lee Rogers of Robbinsville, North Carolina
37 year old Amanda Layton of Murphy, North Carolina 
29 year old Heather Hill of Robbinsville, North Carolina
27 year old Chasidy Cook of Whitter, North Carolina
38 year old Thomas Rogers of Robbinsville, North Carolina
21 year old Hunter Phillips of Robbinsville, North Carolina
23 year old Amy Nicole Jumper of Robbinsville, North Carolina
24 year old Davon Jones of Andrews North Carolina

During the search of the residence, a substantial quantity of Methamphetamine was seized. All 16 of the individuals were arrested and brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center for booking and processing.

Steven Hall and Valerie Mashburn were charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession with the Intent to Sell & Deliver Methamphetamine, Felony Maintaining a Dwelling House, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The remaining individuals were charged with Felony Aiding and Abetting Maintaining a Dwelling House.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “We continue our war against drugs and those who deal them in Cherokee County. We are going to continue to partner with all law enforcement in and around Cherokee County to protect our community from this menace.”

Sheriff Palmer encourages anyone that has information on this crime or any other to report it. 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— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the November 20th, 2015 arrest of Sharon Cote Allman, a 31-year-old Murphy, North Carolina woman on indictments for trafficking in opiates.

During an undercover operation in the calendar year of 2013, Allman became a suspect in the illegal sale and delivery of opiates, Schedule III Controlled Substances and untaxed liquor.  During the investigation, information was collected and presented to the Grand Jury who handed down the indictments from it’s November 2015 setting.

Allman was arrested and posted a $50,000 secure bond.  Allman is expected to be in Cherokee County Superior Court on February 29th, 2016.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “We are starting to see some of the fruits of our labors coming through. These investigations are very complex and often take an inordinate amount of time to get to indictment. We are working with the District Attorney’s Office to continue to bring people to justice who are dealing drugs.”

Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information on this crime or any other to report it. 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— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the November 19th, 2015 arrest of Charles Richard Koogler Jr, a 46-year-old Murphy, North Carolina on charges stemming from a marijuana grow operation located at a residence on Maple Lane, Murphy, North Carolina.
 
On November 19th, 2015, deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported domestic dispute involving Koogler and another family member. While responding to the residence, Koogler was found to be in possession of recently harvested marijuana which was packed in the pickup truck that he was leaving the residence in.
 
Investigators conducted a search of the residence and collected several items of evidence that were used to grow and harvest marijuana along with additional marijuana. All the items were collected and retained as evidence.
 
Koogler was taken to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office where he was charged with Trafficking in Marijuana, Maintaining a Dwelling for the Manufacture of Controlled Substances (2 Counts), Manufacture of Schedule VI Controlled Substances and Assault on a Female. Koogler is currently being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center on a $51,000 secure bond.

Koogler is expected in Cherokee County District Court on December 01, 2015.
 
Sheriff Palmer stated, “Again, I want to compliment the members of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office on their team work in this arrest. This was a very sophisticated operation and evidently Koogler was pretty prolific at it considering the size of the seizure we can easily say that we confiscated over $150,000.00 worth of illegal drugs that won’t make it to the streets. As we continue to investigate this case we are anticipating additional arrests.”
 
Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information on this crime or any other to report it. 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.

Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a structure fire in which two of the occupants at 66 Pine Grove Drive, Andrews, North Carolina were found deceased.

Shortly before 5 am on November 23, 2015, Cherokee County Communications received a call from Lorinda Parker, resident, at 66 Pine Grove Drive, Andrews, North Carolina stating that the home was on fire and that there were two other occupants that she was not able to get out. Parker then returned to a bedroom and broke a window and escaped the burning residence.

Valleytown Fire Department responded and requested additional assistance from Murphy Fire Department. During the response to the fire, 78-year-old Loretta Parker and 59-year-old Teresa Parker were found deceased in the structure.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by a resident Agent of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are conducting an investigation into the cause and origin of the fire.

Initial findings would indicate that the fire appeared to have started in the kitchen where someone had been cooking. There were also indications that attempts had been made to put the fire our which was unsuccessful.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “I want to express our deepest sympathies during this time of loss.  Our thoughts and prayers go out the family and loved ones of the deceased. I also want to thank Valleytown Fire Department, Murphy Fire Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Andrews Police Department for all the assistance in this very sad matter.”

WKRK and Tri-County Community College are proud to present "The John Conlee Show," a special concert with the legendary country artist John Conlee at the Enloe Multipurpose Room at the main campus of Tri-County Community College on Friday, February 19, 2016 at 7 pm.  
John Conlee is a country music icon and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1981.

During John Conlee’s 35 year career in country music, he has brought to audiences such classic songs as "Rose Colored Glasses" (John's signature song), "Friday Night Blues", "Backside of 30", "Common Man", "Miss Emily's Picture", "I Don't Remember Lovin' You", and more.  

Overall, there have been 29 single releases throughout the years with 26 of them charting in the top 20 or better.  Eight of those 26 have reached the coveted Number 1 spot on the national country charts.
 
Get tickets early as seating is limited.  Tickets can be purchased at King Ford, Highway 64 West in Murphy.  You can also call 800-965-9324 or visit www.itickets.com.

WKRK and Tri-County Community College are proud to bring you, “The John Conlee Show."

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 November 11th, 2015 arrest of 38-year-old Joni Marie Dugger, a Chattanooga, Tennessee woman on drug charges. 

During the early hours of November 11th, 2015, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received a call for assistance from Tribal Police indicating that Dugger and her husband had been in a domestic dispute at Harrah's Casino and that while Dugger was leaving the casino property in her husband’s vehicle, she had wrecked it and left the scene.

Dugger was found a short time later behind the National Guard Armory which is adjacent the casino property.  Drugs were located in the area which Dugger had attempted to hide them from officers. The drugs seized were Hydrocodone, Clonazepam and a small amount of marijuana.

Dugger was arrested for Simple Possession of Schedule II, III, IV Controlled Substances and Possession of Paraphernalia by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Dugger was arrested by Tribal Police for Misdemeanor Larceny and Possession of Stolen Goods. Dugger was released on November 11, 2015 after posting a $5,000 secure bond. Dugger has a January 20, 2016 District Court date.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “Again, we partnered with officers from Cherokee Tribal, North Carolina Highway Patrol, and Murphy Police Department to resolve this issue. I want to thank each of the officers and their agencies for their help.”

 Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information on this crime or any other to report it. 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— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the arrest of 27-year-old Robert Joshua Brown, 51-year-old Robert Edward Brown and 26-year-old Krystal Darlene Millsaps on charges in connection with several breaking and enterings in the Cherokee County area.

During the months of August and September, Cherokee County experienced a rash of breaking and entering into mostly part-year residences.  At the time of the breaking and enterings, the residences were not occupied.

In mid-October of this year, the Towns County Sheriff’s Office and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office began a joint investigation which culminated in the initial capture of Robert Edward Brown and Krystal Darlene Millsaps in Towns County, Georgia who were in possession of a large amount of items which later was discovered to have been stolen from several residences in Cherokee County, North Carolina.

As the investigation progressed, information was found that Robert Joshua Brown, the son of Robert Edward Brown was involved in the breaking and enterings and the theft of the items from the residences in Cherokee County.

Additionally, information was discovered that Robert Edward Brown and Krystal Darlene Millsaps had gone to a local pawn shop and sold at least one of the television sets that had been stolen from a residence in Cherokee County.

Robert Joshua Brown, who was incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center on a breaking and entering charge from Murphy Police Department, was served with additional charges of breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering, as well as a fugitive warrant. Robert Joshua Brown is currently out on a $10,000 secure bond.

Robert Edward Brown and Krystal Millsaps were served with warrants for breaking and entering and fugitive warrants. Both are currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center. Brown has a $60,000 secure bond and Millsaps has a $10,000 bond.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “This is a good example of how we partner and work with agencies in and around Cherokee County. We are continuing to build cases to recover most of the items that have been stolen.  I want to thank the Towns County Sheriff’s Office for their work in this.”

Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information on this crime or any other to report it. 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— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the October 25th, 2015 arrest of Randale Allen Bell, a 48 year old Topton, North Carolina man for charges relating from a domestic violence incident.

At about 7:30 pm on October 25th, 2015, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was called to respond to a residence in the Cherokee County side of Topton, North Carolina to investigate a report of a domestic assault. Upon arriving to the scene, the responding deputy sheriff was able to determine that Randale Allen Bell had assaulted a female who was living at the residence by hitting, punching, and choking her as well as hitting a small child that was at the residence. The deputy sheriff then arrested Bell.

Bell was brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where he appeared before the North Carolina Magistrate who placed Bell under no bond until Bell appeared before a District Court Judge on October 26th, at which time he was given a $3,000 secure bond.  Bell is currently out on the secure bond and is expected back in Cherokee County District Court November 17th, 2015.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “Domestic Violence continues to be a problem in Cherokee County.  We will continue to fight to bring people to justice that commit assaults on those we are less able to defend themselves including our youth.”

​Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information on this crime or any other to report it. 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— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the October 30th, 2015 arrest of Jeffery Scott Dobbs, a 46 year old Murphy, North Carolina man on felony stalking charges.

During the month of October 2015, a complaint was made to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office that Jeffery Scott Dobbs was making contact with a teenaged female and the contact was unwanted and was causing anxiety to the female. During the investigation information was found that Dobbs was making contact via Facebook.com and through cellular messages.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Dobbs had been previously convicted in Cherokee County District Court on September 2, 2015 for misdemeanor Stalking and placed on probation. Additionally, there was a court order that Dobbs not contact the victim in any form which was still in effect at the time that Dobbs was making contact through Facebook and cellular messages.

On October 30th, 2015, detectives with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, accompanied by a member of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, went to the residence of Dobbs and arrested him on the two felony warrants. At the time of arrest, there were two cellular phone which were confiscated to be examined at a later date.

Dobbs was brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where he was served warrants for 2 counts of felony stalking and placed on a $50,000 secure bond. The North Carolina Magistrate set a November 4th, 2015 District Court date.  Dobbs remains in the custody of the Detention Center at the time of this press release.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “Social media and cellphones have given lots of folks a false sense of security feeling their activities are hidden. Fortunately, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has many capabilities that smaller agencies don’t have in working these types of cases. Although cases such as this one are very time consuming and often very technical, we are able to search out individuals like Jeffery Dobbs and bring them to justice.  This case could have had a very different result and hopefully with this arrest, Dobbs will understand this type of behavior will not be tolerated. We do appreciate the help of our Probation and Parole Officers who stepped up when called upon.  It does take the whole team to help our community remain safe and secure.”

Sheriff Palmer encourages any one that has information on this crime or any other to
report it. 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.