MURPHY
Sheriff gets new K-9 unit
A fourth K-9 officer will be joining the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office on Monday. Chief Deputy Chris Wood said the county’s newest K-9 officer will be a female German shepherd named Ellie, who is the sister of Epic, a K-9 already on the force.
“They’re multi-purpose dogs, so they’re trained in narcotics, bite work, they can track, they are a full-spectrum patrol dog,” he said.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved the sheriff’s office’s request to use $25,380 from their designated fund for the purchase of the dog and supporting equipment on Aug. 1. Wood said the entire cost of the dog was paid for through the designated fund.
“We were able to do this without using any tax money from our citizens,” he added.
BRYSON CITY
Andrews man facing charges
A tip has led to the arrest of an accused local sexual predator.
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Joshua Lee Perkins of Andrews was taken into custody on Aug. 17 in Swain County on felony indictments for nine counts of second-degree child exploitation (distribution) and nine counts of third-degree child exploitation (possession), according to a release. A secured bond was set at $490,000.
This case was initiated through the CyberTipline maintained by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The information was then referred to the N.C. Division of the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which consists of state and local law enforcement task forces dedicated to developing effective responses to online enticement of children by sexual predators, child exploitation, and child obscenity and pornography cases.
Agents and detectives working on the task force involved in the investigation of Perkins included the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, State Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The hotline number – 1-800-THE-LOST – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.
Shooting atUnion school
A disgruntled school employee shot up a maintenance vehicle parked at Union County Primary School on Aug. 11.
The suspect quickly left school grounds and, following an extensive law enforcement search of the area, was apprehended less than an hour later. School officials requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to handle the case, which reported that there was no longer a threat to the public following the “targeted” incident.
What started as a potential active shooter threat ultimately ended in no one being physically injured. The GBI has clarified that the “isolated shooting” was the result of a “specific unoccupied vehicle” – and not people – being targeted by gunfire in the school parking lot.
Dwight Anthony “Tony” Brown, 64, of Blairsville, was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting at the primary school, according to the GBI said. Brown was a maintenance employee at the schools who had been working on campus the day prior to the shooting.
RALEIGH
Have a safe Labor Day
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, N.C. Highway Patrol and Mothers Against Drunk Driving North Carolina will once again work together on the public safety campaign, “On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive,” with events and safety check points throughout the state on Labor Day Weekend.
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The multi-agency safety initiative aims to reduce alcohol-related incidents on the state’s waterways and roadways. In North Carolina, a driver or vessel operator with a blood-alcohol concentration that meets or exceeds .08 or is substantially impaired by alcohol and/or drugs, is subject to arrest.
For details, visit ncwildlife.org or call 919-707-0031.
From staff and North Georgia News reports.