Chase nets drugs and 2 arrests

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 3rd, 2016 arrest of 29-year-old Lee Roy Chumley, of Jasper, Georgia and 29-year-old Teresa Marie Loudermilk of Mineral Bluff, Georgia for charges stemming from a chase and violations of the controlled substance laws for North Carolina.

While working operations to investigate individuals who are frequenting residences in Cherokee County known to be used for the illegal sale and delivery of illegal controlled substances, a vehicle was observed at one of those residences in the Hanging Dog Community of Cherokee County, North Carolina. Once the vehicle left, a Patrol Sergeant began following the vehicle to initiate an investigatory stop on the vehicle. After observing a violation by the driver of the vehicle, the Sergeant attempted to stop the vehicle at which time the vehicle fled in an attempt to evade the Sergeant. After a short vehicle chase, the vehicle stopped and both the driver and the passenger attempted to escape in a wooded area. Additional Deputies, Detectives of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office along with members of the Murphy Police Department arrived and assisted in the capture of Chumley and Loudermilk. During a search of the vehicle, a sizeable quantity of methamphetamine was found.

Chumley was arrested and taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center where he was charged with POSS W/I MANUF/SELL/DEL SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE DRIVE, POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, FLEE/ELUDE ARREST WITH A MOTOR VEHICLE, RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER, ALLOW MV NO REGISTRATION, FAIL STOP STOP SIGN FLSH RED LIGHT, RECKLESS DRIVING TO ENDANGER, OPERATE VEH NO INS, NO OPERATORS LICENSE. Chumley is currently being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center under a $21,000.00 secure bond.

Loudermilk was arrested and taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center where she was charged with POSSESS SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER, EXTRADITION/FUGITIVE OTHER STATE, POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. Loudermilk is currently being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center under a $20,000.00 secure bond.

Sheriff Palmer remarked, “Thanks to the attentiveness of Sergeant Cody Williams we took more drugs off the street. We are thankful for the assistance of Murphy Police Department and also that the chase was contained to a smaller area so not to endanger the community further. Hopefully we are sending a statement to those who want to deal drugs in Cherokee County that we are watching and going after them!”

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.