HOPE HILLS
State seizes THC edibles
Secretary of State Trademark Enforcement Agents recently assisted in a multi-county enforcement action resulting in the seizure of more than $313,000 worth of THC-infused gummies and snacks concealed by counterfeited brands that are popular with children and teenagers.
In addition to the edibles, 31 weapons, 1,800 kilograms of marijuana products and more than $300,000 in currency were seized as part of the operation involving 107 vape stores. The operation resulted in three arrests, and 24 shops were issued warnings for counterfeit merchandise.
Secretary of State Trademark Law Enforcement Agents and the N.C. Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force worked with local authorities – including the Hope Mills Police Department, Fayetteville Police Department, and other local law enforcement in Cumberland and Robeson counties – on the coordinated enforcement effort. Counterfeited brands ranged from Skittles and Lay’s brand chips to Nerds and Tic Tac.
“This growing trend of THC-infused edibles using counterfeit snack brands popular with our kids is dangerous for our communities,” Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said in a release. “Counterfeiting is not a victimless crime. As is the case here, there is oftentimes other dangerous activity associated with counterfeiting, including guns and illegal drugs.”
According to America’s Poison Centers, reports of cannabis edible poisonings in children ages 12 and under have skyrocketed since 2018. In 2023, there were 6,888 reports to poison control centers compared to 808 in 2018. Combined with two operations leading into Halloween in 2022 and 2023, these three major operations have led to more than $700,000 worth of THC edibles being taken off store shelves.
Details: Email suspected counterfeit goods to anticounterfeit@sosnc.gov.
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.
Teen charged with threats
While at Union County High School’s Fall Ball Homecoming dance at Brasstown Valley Resort on Sept. 21, a 17-year-old student at Union County Schools, made threats toward Union County Schools directly to three juvenile students, according to a release.
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Towns County sheriff’s investigators were called by the Union County School Police Department to interview the witnesses since it ha jurisdiction in investigating the incident and bringing charges on the suspect. The release says the threats were terroristic in nature.
Abraham Parker Patrick, 17, of Blairsville, Ga., was arrested and charged with felony terroristic threats and is being held without bond at the Towns County Detention Center. Sheriff Ken Henderson said terroristic threats made against schools, students, and staff will be taken seriously, and the appropriate action will be taken.
MURPHY
Sign theft real crime
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports of campaign signs being stolen.
“We want to remind everyone that one of the benefits to living in a country as great and the United States of America is that we enjoy the right to have different opinions and viewpoints than those of our neighbor,” a release from the sheriff’s office said last week.
“Please be respectful of everyone’s right to support the candidate of their choosing regardless of their political party or affiliation and their right to display that support.”
Under N.C. General Statue 136-32, it is a Class 3 misdemeanor for a person to steal, deface, vandalize or unlawfully remove a political sign that is lawfully placed. Campaign signs are expensive, and the sheriff’s office will enforce this statue without bias to party affiliation.
Details: Call the Cherokee County Board of Elections at 828-837-6670.
BLOUNT, Tenn.
Man dies on Dragon
A man who recently moved to northeast Georgia was killed in a motorcycle accident Sept. 20 on the Tail of the Dragon – U.S. 129.
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Demorest resident Ken Hicks went on a lunchtime, solo drive through the famed stretch of highway – a favorite of motorcycle and sports-car enthusiasts, touted for its 318 curves in a span of 11 miles – and timestamps provided by various photo sites set up along the road helped piece together a rough timeline of his fatal trip.
His cell phone last pinged on N.C. 28 North – around the Cable Cove area of Graham County – at 11:30 a.m. Operating a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10JR, Hicks was last spotted on the Dragon near mile marker 7 at 1:05 p.m. A passer-by later reported seeing scrape marks on the highway at mile marker
8; Hicks’ body was later spotted down an embankment.
A Tennessee Highway Patrol officer responding to the scene also encountered a 150- to 175-pound black bear near Hicks’ body. Officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency later told media representatives that “it was evident the bear had been scavenging the remains of the body.”
The officer attempted to “haze” (fire non-lethal warning shots, using a special ammunition) the bear with both a pistol and a rifle, but the animal refused to back down. Instead, the bear charged, leaving the officer no choice but to euthanize the animal.
Hicks recently moved to Demorest from College Station, Texas. A GoFundMe started by his son, Brandon Roberts, had already raised $7,975 (the original goal was $4,000) by Saturday. To donate, visit gofund.me/72b4b243.
MURPHY
Working on safe schools
Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith and members of sheriff’s office, along with Cherokee County Schools Company Police Chief Brent Hardin, recently participated in a conference call to discuss school safety concerns across the state.
Also participating in the call were Eddie Buffaloe Jr. from the N.C. Department of Public Safety; Robert Schurmeir, director of the State Bureau of Investigation; Nicholas Clint from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and Bob Dewitt, special agent in charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A national threat assessment study showed 76% of the perpetrators of mass casualty assaults exhibited concerning behavior prior to committing an attack, according to a release. The study also showed that 46% of attackers exhibited a noticeable change in personality just prior to the attack.
Details: Submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
Compiled by Cherokee Scout Publisher David Brown and Kevin Hensley of The Graham Star.