The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Alexander County Crime Stopper’s organization to present the first ever National Night Out Against Crime event in Alexander County.  The event will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 from 6pm – 9pm in the field located behind BB&T bank in Taylorsville (Town Park Avenue – Behind Taylorsville Police Department).

That National Night Out concept began in 1984 as “America’s Night Out Against Crime” and is an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.  (more information about the history of the National Association of Town Watch and National Night Out can be found on the NATW website located at http://www.natw.org/about-nno/)

Alexander County’s National Night Out Event will feature emergency vehicle displays, informational booths, free refreshments (while supplies last), live entertainment by local favorite “Shook Lane” band (beginning at 7pm), and activities for the kids.  The event is free to the community so come out and enjoy a night out against crime and meet your local emergency workers!  More information and a venue map can be located on the NNO 2013 page found at http://alexandersheriff.org/national-night-out-2013/

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office and Alexander County Crime Stopper’s will be hosting the first annual National Night Out [Against Crime] event in Alexander County tomorrow (Tuesday, August 6th) from 6pm until 9pm.  The event is designed to bring the emergency services together with the community to enjoy an evening of fellowship and to help build community partnerships to fight back against crime in Alexander County.  Our participation in this event marks the first ever in Alexander County but will join an estimated 37 million people nationwide who are coming out to fight back against crime.  The event will be held in the large grass field behind BB&T bank in Taylorsville.

The event is provided COMPLETELY FREE to the community thanks to our local sponsors and will feature the following:

• Inflatable bounce house and slide
• Face painting
• Fire truck displays
• NCDPS Prison Emergency Response Team & State K-9 Team displays
• Rescue Squad displays
• Patrol cars
• Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team truck
• #84 Wilson Racing Corp. late model car driven by Dylon Wilson
• FREE refreshments (hotdogs, snow cones, popcorn, and drinks (while supplies last)).
• Informational booths
• Memorial tow truck from World Trade Center terrorist attack
• Live entertainment by Shook Lane band

This event is FREE to the community so come out and enjoy a Night Out Against Crime!

(National Night Out may be cancelled in the event of heavy or persistent rain;

a cancellation notice will be posted on our website)

Kimberly Taylor Sherrill

Investigators with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office charged and arrested Kimberly Taylor Sherrill, age 47 of Taylorsville.  Sherrill was charged with 132 counts of Embezzlement by Employee and one count of Accessing Computers for Fraud. The charges are the result of an investigations based on accusations from 2009 to 2012. Sherrill was arrested on August 13, 2013 and placed under a $100,000 secured bond.  Her first court appearance is set for August 19, 2013 in District Court in Taylorsville.

Investigators with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office charged and arrested Wesley Martin Berry, age 37 of Taylorsville.   Berry was charged with Using a Social Website while being a registered sex offender.  Berry was arrested on 8/12/2013 and placed under a $1,200 secured bond.  His first court appearance is set for August 19, 2013 in District Court in Taylorsville.

Brian Patrick Mitchell

Investigators with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office charged and arrested Brian Patrick Mitchell, age 40 of Statesville.  Mitchell was charged with Failure to Change Address while being a Registered Sex Offender.  Mitchell was arrested on 8/12/2013 and is currently in custody under a $500.00 secured bond.  His first court appearance is set for August 26, 2013 in District Court in Taylorsville.

Investigators with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office charged and arrested Jonathan Moose age 20 of Stony Point, Jacob Thomas age 16 of Stony Point and Zachary Wolford age 19 of Hiddenite  all were arrested for Breaking and Entering, Larceny after breaking and entering and two counts of breaking into a coin currency machine. The arrest occurred after the investigation of an incident that occurred at East Alexander Pool in Stony Point back in July of this year. Several coin operated machines were broken into.   All three suspects received a $2,500 secured bond at Alexander Detention Center.  Court dates set for September.

Nicky Eugene Bustle

On 08/08/2013 Deputies with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Rain Tree Park MHP for a Civil Dispute Call. On their arrival they made contact with the victim who was suffering from a severe laceration to the right wrist. Prior to the victim in this matter being transported to the hospital the victim was able to tell responding Deputies that Nicky Eugene Bustle had cut him with a Machete.

After an initial investigation Nicky Eugene Bustle age 55 of 24 Hideaway Acres Ln Hiddenite NC. was arrested and charged with one count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury.

Bustle was placed under a $30,000.00 secured bond in the Alexander County Detention and is currently awaiting trial.

Michelle Leigh Moore

Deputies with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office were conducting an investigation into some residential Breaking and Enterings in the area of Elliott Brann MHP. During the course of the investigation a Suspect was identified and charged.

Michelle Leigh Moore age 34 of Elliott Brann MHP was charged with 2cts of Felony Breaking and Entering, 2 cts Larceny after Breaking and Entering, and 1 ct of Larceny of a Firearm.

Moore is currently being held in the Alexander County Detention Center under a $15,000.00 secured bond awaiting trial.

This investigation continues and more charges are expected.

Aaron Michael Thebeau

Deputies with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the Harbor Dr area in the Bethlehem Community for a report of a Larceny that had occurred on 08/06/2013. It was reported that a lap top computer was missing from the residence; during the initial report a suspect was identified. After completing the report it was also found that there were 2 Antique firearms were also missing from the residence.

Several witness interviews were conducted by Deputies and were able to recover the lap top computer that had been reported.

Aaron Michael Thebeau age 24 of 2979 Blankenship Rd. Taylorsville was later arrested and charged with 1 ct Misdemeanor Larceny and 1 ct of Felony Larceny of a Firearm.

Thebeau was placed in the Alexander County Detention Center under a $5,000.00 secured Bond and is currently awaiting trial.

On August 6, 2013, investigators with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office arrested Richard Feimster, Jr, Jennifer Dishmon, and Kelly Collins.  Feimster, black male, age 33 of Stony Point was charged with 2 counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense.  Dishmon, white female, age 25 of Stony Point, was charged with 1 count of Obtaining Property by False Pretense.  Collins, white female, age 29 of Taylorsville, was charged with 5 counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretense.  The arrests came as a result of the three forging and passing checks at Propst Convenience Store.  Feimster was placed under a $4000 secured bond, Dishmon was given a $2000 secured bond, and Collins was given a $5000 secured bond.  All three were scheduled to be in court on August 12, 2013.

Jacob Nelson Teague

Jacob Nelson Teague age 34 of Taylorsville  was arrested on 06/21/2013 following a vehicle chase on Highway 16 North. Jacob had active warrants for Breaking and Entering and when deputies attempted to stop him he fled in his vehicle then on foot. Since that time detectives have linked him to several other breaking and entering’s in Alexander County. Jacob charges are 5 counts of breaking and entering, 5 counts of larceny after breaking and entering, break and enter a motor vehicle, 2 counts of misdemeanor larceny, felony flee to elude and resisting arrest. Jacob is held at Alexander County Detention under a $124,000 secured bond.

NC Senate Bill 368 and NC House Bill 937 each make changes to the firearms laws in North Carolina.  With the passing of each of these bills one notable change imposes a fee cap for pistol purchase permits that can be charged by North Carolina Sheriff’s Offices and sets that cap at $5 per permit.  Since July 2013 the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office has been utilizing an online pistol permit application system provided by a company called Permitium.

This system has proven very beneficial to the Sheriff’s Office staff by allowing them to track and process each permit application online from the time the application is received to the time it is issued or denied.  The system also provides the added benefit to the applicant by allowing them to apply for an pay for applications from any computer that has access to the internet.  This means that applicants no longer have to come to the Sheriff’s Office and wait in potentially long lines to apply for permits.  Once the online permit application has been processed and approved, an email notifies the applicant of the dates and times when their permit can be picked up in person; requiring only one trip to the Sheriff’s Office to pick up the permit.

Regardless of the changes implemented by SB368 and HB937, the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office plans to continue to offer the online permit application as a convenience service in addition to the traditional paper applications and permits.

Effective September 1, 2013 pistol purchase permit applications will be accepted by either of the two ways listed below:

Option 1 – Permit Application in Person

• Applications for pistol purchase permits can still be submitted in person at the Sheriff’s Office Monday through Friday between 8am – 4pm (this option will require the applicant to apply for the permit in person and wait at the Sheriff’s Office until the permit is processed).  This service will cost $5 for each permit (whether approved or denied).

Option 2 – Permit Application Online

• Online applications can still be made by using the Permitium system (available at acso.permitium.com or on the Sheriff’s Office website at www.alexandersheriff.org).  The use of this service is completely voluntary and is provided as a convenience option to the public.  Any processing fees associated with the use of this service are collected by the service provider, not the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office.  These fees (typically $3 per application – not per permit) are collected by Permitium (a private company) and as such are pursuant to an agreement between the applicant and that private company alone.  Processing fees above the $5 permit fee are not retained by the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office.  Once the purchase permit has been approved for issuance, the applicant using the Permitium system will be notified by email of the dates and times that they can pick up their permit in person at the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office thereby eliminating any wait time for the issued permit.

Timothy Leon Watts

Investigators from Alexander County Sheriff’s Office have concluded an investigation of a reported Sexual Assault.  Timothy Leon WATTS, 48 year old, W/M, DOB:  03/13/1965, of 3014 Cheatham Ford Road in Hiddenite, who was already a Registered Sex Offender, was charged and arrested on 08/23/2013 with (3) three counts of First Degree Statutory Sex Offense with a Child and (3) three counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child.  In a separate case, Timothy Leon WATTS was charged on Wednesday, 09/04/2013 with (3) three additional counts of First Degree Statutory Sex Offense with a Child and (3) three additional counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child.  Mr. WATTS was arrested and placed under an additional $600,000.00 Secured Bond.  Mr. WATTS is scheduled for his First Appearance on these new charges in District Court on Monday, 09/09/2013.  Mr. WATTS is currently under a $1,100,000.00 (1.1 million dollar bond). 

Alexander County Sheriff’s Office Launches Anonymous Tip Service As Proactive Crime Tool

Public Can Submit Anonymous Crime Tips Via Web, Texting, or Mobile Device

Taylorsville, N.C., September 11, 2013– The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office announced today the availability of TipSoft, a  service for citizens to anonymously submit crime-related tips through the Web, a text message, or from any Android or iPhone mobile device with the TipSubmit mobile app. The use of TipSoft is part of the agency’s proactive efforts to prevent, reduce, and solve crime.

TipSoft is successful because it uses technology that is familiar to citizens, which allows them to carry on an anonymous two-way conversation with the agency without requiring them to speak directly to an officer or call taker. TipSoft is proven to help stop and solve crimes. To date, the TipSoft system, used across the country, has received more than two million tips, resulting in 145,000 arrests, 55,000 fugitives caught, and more than $5.3 billion recovered in drugs and property – including 11,000 vehicles and 22,000 weapons.

“As Sheriff of Alexander County I am continually looking for new ways to engage the public in helping us solve and reduce crime in our community.  With the popularity of cell phones today I feel that our use of Tipsoft will greatly increase the number of crime tips we are receiving; thereby leading to more arrests, cleared cases, and a safer community.” – Sheriff Chris Bowman

In addition to encouraging the public to submit crime-related information using Web forms, mobile apps, and texting, TipSoft supports users’ ability to submit videos or photographs using the TipSoft mobile app. TipSoft can be used to submit information on crimes, missing children, fugitives, and other non-emergency situations.

Citizens are encouraged to use TipSoft to report information about any non-urgent illegal activity, such as unsolved cases, vandalism, theft, the sale and distribution of drugs or information about crimes that are being planned in the community or in schools.  Tips can be submitted through the webtips form by visiting the Sheriff’s Office website found at www.AlexanderSheriff.org, or by texting the keyword “ACSOTIPS” along with the tip information to the shortcode destination “CRIMES” (274637).  (There is no charge for using this service however the user is responsible for any text message fees their phone provider may charge for texting)  Citizens may also still call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 828-632-8555 to speak to a live call-taker if they prefer.  The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office plans to offer the Text-A-Tip program to the county’s middle and high school campuses as part of a Campus Crime Stoppers program in the near future.

In the early morning hours of 09/13/13 deputies with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office stopped a stolen motorcycle driven by Ernest Ames from 112 Tracy Bolick ln. The motorcycle was stolen from Hickory the night before. Information received during the stop lead deputies to Ernest Ames residence at 112 Tracy Bolick ln. When Deputies arrived they located numerous items of stolen property outside the residence including a scooter and a trailer. Detectives were issued a search warrant and searched the residence where they located Erica Ames inside. A search of the residence revealed a quantity of methamphetamine and other stolen items. Ernest was charged with two counts of possession of stolen property, one count of felony larceny and possession schedule II controlled substance. Ernest is being held at the detention center under a $100,000 secured bond. Erica was charged with possession of schedule II controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and held under a $50,000 secured bond. A third suspect was linked to the stolen property. Michael Brian Sherrod is currently being sought by the sheriff’s Office for felony Larceny. Anyone with information on Sherrod is ask to call the Alexander County Crime Stoppers at 828-632-8555 or you may text your tip anonymously to the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office by using the new Text-A-Tip service.  Text keyword ACSOTIPS plus your message CRIMES (274637) to submit your information.  A reward is being offered on information leading to the arrest of Michael Brian Sherrod.

Michael Brian Sherrod

Authorities with the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office have taken Michael Brian Sherrod into custody.  Sherrod was wanted on outstanding warrants for his alleged involvement in a theft ring that has been tied to recent larcenies in and around Alexander County.  Sherrod is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center under an $18,000 secured bond.

Ronnie Allen Boggs

Members of the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest on an outdoor grow operation of Marijuana.  Deputies seized 37 Marijuana plants growing in a garden at the residence of Ronnie Allen Boggs located on Gant Drive in Taylorsville.  Officers also seized approximately 45.5 ounces of Marijuana from the residence.  Boggs, age 66, was charged with Manufacture of a Controlled Substance, Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver a Controlled Substance, Maintain a Dwelling for Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  The bond was set at $15,000.00 with a trial date set for Monday September 30, 2013.  

37 Marijuana Plants Seized From Grow Operation

Members of the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office have arrested two suspects for Breaking and Entering into  a local Church. Deputies were called to Promise Land Ministries located off of B & S Lane in Bethlehem yesterday in reference to a Breaking and Entering that had occurred.  The pastor had found that someone had broken a window to the church and made entry, after inside thieves went to the Church office and stole all of the Sunday offering money.  Officers found some footprints in the mud outside of the Church and were able to track the prints to a residence nearby the Church.  Officers found Corey Gage Hill at the home he had red fresh mud on his pants and shoes.  Deputies matched the shoe prints of his shoes to the prints located at the Church.  Hill confessed to the crime on scene and took deputies to a location nearby and retrieved the stolen money from the church.  Officers also found out that a second suspect by the name of George Early Whitener was involved with incident.  He was arrested at his home on Hillcrest Lane.  Most of the stolen money was recovered. Corey Gage Hill age 18 of Bethlehem and George Early Whitener age 17 also of Bethlehem were both charged with Breaking Entering and Larceny.  Bond on both suspects was set at $50,000.00.  First court date set for September 30, 2013. 

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of a suspicious person seen walking around homes in the 4000 block of Millersville RD on October 17, 2013 around 8:30 a.m.  Authorities believe the person may have been surveilling homes to break into but have not confirmed this suspicion as of press time.  Residents are asked to be on the lookout for suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.  Anyone with information about the person or vehicle shown above is asked to call the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office.  Tips can also be submitted  anonymously online at www.alexandersheriff.org or via text message by texting the keyword “ACSOTIPS” plus the information to the shortcode destination of CRIMES (274637).  All tips are anonymous.  The person and vehicle pictured above are not connected to any crime at this time.  Authorities will continue to investigate the case and will post more information as it becomes available.

Walter Curtis Childers

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office has arrested and charged Walter Curtis Childers age 31 of Taylorsville. Childers has been charged with 7 counts of 1^st Degree Statutory Sex Offense with a Child and 7 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child.  Mr. Childers was placed under a $750,000.00 bond.  The court date is set for October 28, 2013.