Two arrested in drug trafficking investigation

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.
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Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the September 14th, 2018 arrest of a Georgia and Tennessee men for violations of the North Carolina Controlled Substance Statutes.

Detectives with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division conducted an investigation into individuals that were using, possessing and selling illegal controlled substances in Cherokee County North Carolina. During the investigation Christopher Dwayne Price, a 41 year old Farner Tennessee man, was arrested on or about September 12th, 2018 for felony possession of methamphetamine. Information gathered during the investigation at that time was that Price had in his possession over a pound of methamphetamine which he had hidden just prior to his arrest.

Detectives continued their investigation and at about 4 pm on Friday, September 14th, 2018 Price along with John Michael Koback, a 41 year old Norcross Georgia man were stopped at a local shopping center in a vehicle they were occupying at the time. During the stop suspected methamphetamine was found in plain view. Both Price and Koback were arrested. During the search of the vehicle the two were occupying approximately 40 grams of suspect methamphetamine was discovered. Further, information was given to one of the detectives and he was able to locate the additional methamphetamine that had been hidden earlier in the week by Price. All total a little over a pound, or over 400 grams, of suspected methamphetamine was seized during this short investigation.

Christopher Dwayne Price was taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center where he was charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine. He is currently free after posting a $200,000.00 secure bond and is expected to be in Cherokee County District Court on September 27th, 2018.

John Michael Koback was taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center where he is currently incarcerated for Felony Possession of Methamphetamine and a previous Failure To Appear. Koback has a $14,000.00 secure bond and is also expected to be in Cherokee County District Court on September 27th, 2 018.

Sheriff Derrick Palmer stated “About $40,000.00 worth of illegal drugs were taken off the street in this investigation. We are continuing our investigation and are working closely with federal law enforcement partners to combat the flow of illegal drugs into Cherokee County.”

​To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law please call 828-837-1344 or submit a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.