GrahamCountySheriffsOffice

Pastell charged with death by distribution – again

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 17, 2025
Mountain Creek – There have been four charges of death by distribution assessed in Graham County since former governor Roy Cooper signed the bill into law six years ago. Locally, Bobby Huel Pastell has been on the docket for the charge 50 percent of the time.
Graham County’s officers took local children to the Murphy Walmart for the annual “Shop with a Cop” on Dec. 11. Here, Robbinsville Elementary School Resource Officer Josh Reap helps a member of the program gather Christmas presents. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Graham County’s officers took local children to the Murphy Walmart for the annual “Shop with a Cop” on Dec. 11. Here, Robbinsville Elementary School Resource Officer Josh Reap helps a member of the program gather Christmas presents. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Shop till you drop

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Murphy – Both the Graham County Sheriff’s Office and Graham County School Resource officers joined forces for a significant assignment Dec. 11.  These brave officers were responsible for safely delivering 29 students from Graham County Schools to Walmart in Murphy and back.
Authorities from multiple regional agencies travel through the Corridor K roadwork in Stecoah for the execution of “Operation Dirty Laundry: Phase 2” on Nov. 26. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Authorities from multiple regional agencies travel through the Corridor K roadwork in Stecoah for the execution of “Operation Dirty Laundry: Phase 2” on Nov. 26. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

More 'Dirty Laundry' aired out

Kevin Hensley
Friday, December 6, 2024
Kmart might have shuttered all of its continental stores in the United States, but the spirit of the “blue-light special” lives on. A convoy of authorities from multiple agencies rolled into Graham County just after 8 a.m., Nov.
Graham County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jarod Lovelace encounters one of the individuals authorities were searching for around 1 p.m., Tuesday, as part of "Operation Dirty Laundry: Phase 2." The suspect was apprehended just outside the Robbinsville city limits, after being spotted on foot walking north off U.S. Highway 129 (Tapoco Road). Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Graham County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jarod Lovelace encounters one of the individuals authorities were searching for around 1 p.m., Tuesday, as part of "Operation Dirty Laundry: Phase 2." The suspect was apprehended just outside the Robbinsville city limits, after being spotted on foot walking north off U.S. Highway 129 (Tapoco Road). Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

More 'Dirty Laundry;' more arrests

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Three full days removed from launching "Operation Dirty Laundry," the Graham County Sheriff's Office again combined forces with regional agencies Tuesday to conclude Phase 2 of the 11-month investigation.

2 traffic stops, 2 arrests

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 29, 2024
Deputies from the Graham County Sheriff’s Office made a pair of lunch-hour traffic stops on both Aug. 14 and 16, with both resulting in arrests and the seizure of a combined 70 grams of methamphetamine. Kloie Matteanne Cox, 21 of Hayesville and Randy Dale Price, Jr.
Graham County Narcotics K-9 Sam poses with the 2.22 pounds of methamphetamine he discovered during an early-morning traffic stop Aug. 10. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Graham County Narcotics K-9 Sam poses with the 2.22 pounds of methamphetamine he discovered during an early-morning traffic stop Aug. 10. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Meth bust largest in county history

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Tallulah – An early-morning traffic stop Aug. 10 solidified the efforts of a 7-month narcotics investigation by the Graham County Sheriff’s Office. A patrol officer pulled over a vehicle being operated by 36-year-old Christy Lee Lofty around the 900 block of Tallulah Road.
Graham County authorities raided this residence on Ward Street in Robbinsville on May 3 and uncovered a plethora of evidence. Two suspects were arrested. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Graham County authorities raided this residence on Ward Street in Robbinsville on May 3 and uncovered a plethora of evidence. Two suspects were arrested. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Ward Street raid nets 2 arrests

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 16, 2024
This crystal-like substance field-tested as methamphetamine and was just one piece of evidence seized by the Graham County Sheriff’s Office during the raid.

Trafficking; handgun possession nets arrests

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 25, 2024
In a span of two days, the Graham County Sheriff’s Office made a pair of arrests to both help combat local larceny and improve safety. Deputies were dispatched to the Cross Creek community April 14, after receiving a report about suspected larceny of utilities.

‘Give us a seat at the table’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Robbinsville – For the first time in almost a decade, the Graham County Board of Education will be tasked with appointing a new superintendent. The district’s faculty wants a say in who gets the nod.