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Courts_crime
Long View names Justin Reid as new Chief of Police
By THE PAPER STAFF
Long View Chief of Police Justin Reid
FOR THE PAPER
The Town of Long View has appointed Justin Reid as its new Chief of Police. His first day on the job was Aug. 1.
Reid brings 15 years of law enforcement experience to the role, including the last three years as Major and Deputy Chief of the Long View Police Department. He began his policing career in 2010 with the Lenoir Police Department, where he served in multiple roles, including patrol, K-9 handling, field training, and special response. He joined the Long View department in 2020.
Reid holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate and is a certified instructor through the North Carolina Training and Standards Commission. He is also a graduate of the NC Justice Academy’s Leadership Institute and is a certified firearms instructor. Over the course of his career, he has completed nearly 3,000 hours of professional training.
Reid lives in the area with his wife and four children. His off-duty time is spent with family at ball games, cookouts, and the pool.
As chief, Reid has emphasized a community-first approach to policing, with a focus on prevention, preparedness, and partnership. He has committed to keeping the department engaged, visible, and proactive.
With Reid’s promotion, Dennis Hardin will move into the role of Major/Deputy Chief, and Davey Anderson will be promoted to Operations Captain.
Allen VanNoppen is the publisher. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 orallen@thepaper.media.
Courts_crime
Valdese duo sentenced to more than 5 years for drug trafficking
By THE PAPER STAFF
Bollinger
FOR THE PAPER
Clawson
FOR THE PAPER
Nicholas Eugene Bollinger, 33, and Emily Jane Clawson, 32, were sentenced to a minimum of 70 months (maximum of 93 months) for felony trafficking in opium/heroin. Both are now incarcerated in the N.C. Department of Corrections.
Bollinger pled guilty to felony trafficking on Monday, Aug. 4. Clawson followed suit on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
CASE BACKGROUND
Burke County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at their home on 3716 Leger Road in Valdese on July 11 as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.
During the search of the residence, investigators discovered and seized quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and numerous firearms, including one that was stolen.
Following the execution of the search warrant, two individuals, identified as Bollinger and Clawson, were arrested. Both were transported to the Burke County Magistrate’s Office, where they were charged with felony trafficking in opium/heroin, felony possession of methamphetamine, and felony possession of cocaine.
Courts_crime
Drugs and open beer cans part of I-40 traffic stop
By THE PAPER STAFF
Yang
FOR THE PAPER
Yang
FOR THE PAPER
When a Burke County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled over a vehicle on Saturday, Aug. 2, the officer discovered open beer cans and a lot more.
The driver, identified as Jesse Yang, was stopped on I-40 eastbound. In addition to the open beer cans, two additional passengers were present in the vehicle, one of whom was later identified as Boau Yang.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a large resealable plastic bag containing a green leafy substance, suspected to be marijuana; multiple glass smoking pipes; and several plastic bags containing a crystalline substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. A glass pipe was also located in a bag near the area where Boau Yang had been sitting and it was discovered that she had an outstanding warrant from Catawba County.
Jesse Yang was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Burke County Magistrate’s Office, where he was charged with felony PWIMSD Marijuana, felony Possession of Methamphetamine, misdemeanor Open Container of alcohol, and misdemeanor Possess Drug Paraphernalia.
Boau Yang was also taken into custody and transported to the Burke County Magistrate’s Office, where she was charged with misdemeanor Possess Drug Paraphernalia and misdemeanor Resisting a Public Officer. She also faces charges in Catawba County.
J. Yang received a $12,500 secured bond and a court date of Aug. 4. For the Burke County charges, B. Yang received a $2000 secured bond and has a court date of Sept. 18.
Courts_crime
Within 3 hours of being released from jail, one woman found herself back behind bars
By THE PAPER STAFF
Allman
FOR THE PAPER
It didn’t take long for Kayly Allman to find herself in trouble.
The N.C. State Highway Patrol called on the Morganton Department of Public Safety for assistance on a breaking and entering call at the DMV Driver’s License Office on Thursday, July 31.
A white female had reportedly broken into multiple vehicles at 3:30 p.m. at the DMV office, 115 Government Drive in Morganton.
The suspect was identified as Allman, age 33 of Morganton, and was reported to have broken into a blue Hyundai Santa Fe, which was occupied at the time, a blue Ford Mustang, and a black Hyundai Elantra. Allman was reported to have taken a cigarette, which she smoked, a Debbie cake which she ate, two pieces of mail, and a vehicle registration card. Allman was taken into custody at the scene.
She had been released from jail a mere three hours earlier.
Allman was charged with:
2 counts of N.C.G.S 14-56(A)(2), Felony Breaking and Entering Motor Vehicle with Theft
1 count of N.C.G.S. 14-72(B)(2), Larceny after Breaking and Entering
Allman was placed into the Burke County Jail under no bond due to violations of pre-trial release conditions and has an initial court date of Sept. 4. Additional charges may be pending in this case.
Courts_crime
Burke County Sheriff's Office investigates man allegedly shooting stepson
By THE PAPER STAFF
Hinceman
FOR THE PAPER
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting involving two men that occurred on Tuesday, July 29, in Morganton.
When deputies responded to the scene on 2339 Conley Bumgarner Road in Morganton, they found Wesley Wilson Whisnant, 28, suffering from a gunshot wound. Bobby Ray Allen, Jr., 51, was also at the scene and had sustained injuries from assault.
Preliminary investigation indicates Allen, Whisnant’s stepfather, shot Whisnant after an altercation.
Allen and Whisnant were taken by Burke County EMS to UNC Health Blue Ridge for treatment. Whisnant was later transferred to Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem for additional care.
This case remains an active investigation. The Burke County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with the District Attorney’s Office regarding potential charges related to this incident.
Courts_crime
Lenoir woman found sitting in truck with apparent drugs, paraphernalia
By THE PAPER STAFF
Creasy
FOR THE PAPER
Burke County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated calls of a suspicious vehicle at Piney Road and Greenlee Drive in northern Burke County on Tuesday, Aug. 5. What they found was a woman in a black GMC truck.
The truck had more than only Ashley Nicole Creasy of Lenoir inside. During a search of the truck, the deputy located a small clear plastic bag containing a white powdery substance and a prescription medicine bottle containing multiple small clear plastic bags, including a green leafy substance packaged in one of the bags. Pills located were identified as Diazepam and Alprazolam, a small yellow bag containing a crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine and a glass smoking device commonly associated with narcotics use.
Ashley Creasy was taken into custody and transported to the Burke County Magistrate’s Office where she was charged with felony possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, and misdemeanor possession of drug Paraphernalia.
Courts_crime
Public assistance helps deputies nab Morganton man who thought he had gotten away
By THE PAPER STAFF
Howeischer
FOR THE PAPER
When a motorcyclist fled from sheriff’s deputies on Monday, Aug. 4, he got away — but not for long.
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office was involved in a vehicle pursuit that was ultimately terminated due to safety concerns in the area. Following an investigation and public assistance generated by social media, the driver was identified as Brandon Pack Hoewischer, 22, of Morganton.
Two days after the chase, Burke County Sheriff’s Office detectives responded to Hoewischer’s residence, where he was taken into custody without incident.
He was transported to the Magistrate’s Office, where he was charged with felony flee to elude. Hoewischer received a $25,000 secured bond and his first court appearance was scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 7.
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