MURPHY
Man charged with ID theft
Town police arrested a Violet man on warrants relating to use of someone else’s debit card to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise from local stores, according to reports.
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Kyle Branden Jaspersen, 44, of Morrow Road, was arrested by Murphy police at 9:24 p.m. Aug. 15 and remained in the Cherokee County Detention Center as of Monday. He was being held in lieu of $110,000 combined bond on 17 counts including identify theft, obtaining property under false pretense, larceny of a motor vehicle and larceny.
In August 2024, Jaspersen allegedly stole a woman’s 2002 Toyota Camry and debit card, then used the debit card to make a number of purchases ranging from Gatorade and gas at a convenience store to more than $200 spent at a Walmart.
Jaspersen was ordered to not make contact with the victim once he posts bond.
TURTLETOWN, Tenn.
Man finally in custody
A suspected member of the Aryan Brotherhood white supremacist organization who reportedly said he planned to “shoot it out with law enforcement” is in custody in Polk County, WTVC reported.
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The arrest of Harley Golden happened in Turtletown on Aug. 11, according to a release from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, which helped in his capture.
The release says the sheriff’s SWAT team was called to help apprehend Golden, a parolee in Georgia and had last been seen in Cherokee County, N.C. Holden was wanted on charges that include aggravated assault, cruelty to animals, criminal attempt to commit murder, felony possession of a firearm and a parole violation from an assault that happened in Fannin County, Ga.
Law enforcement got a tip that Golden was in a structure at 1368 Stansbury Mountain Road in Turtletown, where the release says his girlfriend, Ashley Teems, lived about 5 miles from the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Polk County authorities called for help from Hamilton County SWAT, and authorities took Golden and his girlfriend into custody without incident.
MURPHY
Blood drive at sheriff’s office
A Blood Assurance drive will be held from noon-4 p.m. Friday at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, 577 Regal St.
All donors will receive a $20 eGift card. Schedule your donation at bloodassurance.org/cherokeecsd22.
MURPHY
Citizen’s auxiliary
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office will host a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at the sheriff’s office to measure community interest in forming a citizen’s auxiliary unit.
The goal for this unit is to be support for the sheriff’s office, regardless of who the elected sheriff is, according to a release. The unit will form a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, establish an internal governance board and serve solely in a volunteer capacity, with no law enforcement powers nor authority.
The sheriff’s office will provide a liaison to work with the auxiliary in order to help advance the common goals of the organizations and promote shared values.
HANGING DOG
Coffee With a Cop coming
The next Coffee With a Cop will be held from 8-10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at Hanging Dog General
Store, 2345 Hanging Dog Road.
Everyone is invited to join their neighbors and local law enforcement officers for coffee and conversation. You’re welcome to ask questions and voice concerns.
ASHEVILLE
Small quake affects region
A light magnitude 2.7 earthquake hit 28 miles away from Asheville at 11:14 a.m. Thursday. The quake had a shallow depth of 3.5 miles but was felt across the area.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface. A second report was later issued by The Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology listed it as a magnitude 2.9 quake. Compiled by Publisher David Brown. Editor Randy Foster contributed to this report.