Theft report leads to drug arrest

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

Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the May 26th, 2016 arrest of 36-year-old Robert Corliss Reed of Turtletown, Tennessee, 38-year-old Kellie Morrow of Murphy, North Carolina, and 32-year-old Brian Christopher Cordell of Murphy, North Carolina on charges resulting from a report of theft.

At about 9 am on Thursday, May 26th, 2016, officers were dispatched to the area of Genny Hughes Road, off of Pack Mountain in Cherokee County, to investigate a report of individuals stealing from a residence.

As the officers were responding to the area, the reporting party had cut a tree down to prevent the escape of the three individuals. The three individuals fled from the scene down a road until they high grounded their vehicle. Officers located the three and arrested them. During the arrest, illegally possessed controlled substances were found and seized as well.  The value of the property being stolen was about $2,000.00.

Morrow was arrested placed under a $1,000.00 secure bond on the following charges: FELONY LARCENY, POSSESS METHAMPHETAMINE, SIMPLE POSSESSION SCHEDULE IV CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, POSSESS MARIJUANA UP TO 1/2 OZ.

Reed was arrested and placed under a $1,000.00 secure bond on the following charges: FELONY LARCENY, SIMPLE POSSESSION SCHEDULE IV CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

Cordell was arrested and placed under a $1,000.00 secure bond on the following charges: FELONY LARCENY, SIMPLE POSSESSION SCHEDULE IV CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

Morrow, Reed and Cordell are currently being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center awaiting a June 1st, 2016 Cherokee County District Court date.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “As you can see, these folks were from around the area where they were stealing from. They also were found with drugs on them. We continue to work as a team to combat our crime menace. I want to commend the officers on their quick response to a remote area of the county and being diligent in continuing the chase to apprehend these three.”

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.