Murphy to Hanging Dog Stolen Vehicle Chase

The following press release has been issued by Town of Murphy Police Department.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

On Monday, March 5, 2018 at approximately 3:11 pm, a Murphy Police Officer noticed a white Dodge truck traveling west on Valley River Avenue at Hilton Street. The vehicle matched the description of a stolen vehicle from Cherokee County.  The Murphy Police Officer notified other Officers of the vehicle's location in an attempt to get the vehicle stopped for investigation.  Officers observed the vehicle turning onto Central Street in Murphy traveling toward Valley River Avenue.  Officers confirmed that the vehicle was a reported stolen vehicle and initiated their blue lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle and apprehend the suspects. The suspect vehicle refused to stop for Officers containing to travel on Central Street onto Valley River Avenue east bound.  Officers pursued the suspect vehicle from the Murphy area to the Hanging Dog community where the chase ended at Hidden Waters Drive on Tribal land after a foot pursuit. Heather Hamby was arrested at the stolen vehicle.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office along with the Cherokee Indian Police assisted with the foot pursuit of the two male suspects that fled from the vehicle. Timothy McCoy the driver was arrested after he fled from the vehicle on foot. The third suspect Jamie Allen was arrested the next day in Murphy.

Timothy Jeffery McCoy was charged with Possession of stolen motor vehicle, Flee/Elude arrest with a motor vehicle, Reckless Driving to Endanger, two counts of speeding in a school zone, Resisting Public Officer. McCoy was also served with a warrant for possession of a stolen vehicle in a previous case. McCoy was given a $15000.00 secured bond by the Cherokee County Magistrate.

Heather Hamby was charged with Possession of stolen vehicle, Resisting Public Officer. Hamby was given a $5000.00 secure bond by the Cherokee County Magistrate.

Jamie Lee Allen was charged with Possession of stolen vehicle, Resisting Public Officer. Allen was given a $5000.00 unsecure bond by the Cherokee County Magistrate.

The Murphy Police Department would like to thank the Cherokee County Emergency 911 Dispatch, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Cherokee Indian Police and the North Carolina Highway Patrol for assistance in this situation in an attempt to bring the suspects to justice. ​