Traffic Stop and Search Nets Two Drug Traffickers
Featured News, Featured Stories, Press Release December 23, 2021
Murphy, NC—The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office reports the December 21, 2021 arrest of 42 year old Barron Jermel Sudderth and 49 year old Tommy Vaughn Dockery Jr both of Murphy North Carolina for violations of the North Carolina Controlled Substances Statutes.
A week long investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office culminated in a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by Sudderth and Dockery. During a probable cause search of the vehicle occupied by Sudderth and Dockery a trafficking amount of suspected heroin and fentanyl, suspected methamphetamine, a handgun and ammunition and was seized.
Narcotic investigators then executed a search warrant on the residence of Sudderth, which is in a public housing area of Murphy North Carolina. During that search of Sudderth’s residence additional weapons and ammunition were seized. Both Sudderth and Dockery have previous convictions and are prohibited by North Carolina statutes of possessing firearms.
Baron Jermel Sudderth is incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center for: TRAFFICKING IN OPIUM OR HEROIN X 2, PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE, MAINTAIN a PLACE FOR USE/POSSESSION of CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. Sudderth is under a $150,000.00 secure bond and has a January 13, 2022 Cherokee County District Court date.
Tommy Vaughn Dockery Jr is incarcerated in the Cherokee Detention Center for: TRAFFICKING IN OPIUM OR HEROIN X 2, and PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE. Dockery is under a $150,000.00 secure bond and has a January 13, 2022 Cherokee County District Court date.
Chief Deputy Joe Wood stated “This operation located at least a mid-level amount of Heroin and Fentanyl and firearms in a public housing area in the residence of one of the charged individuals. This definitely was a recipe for disaster had a child discovered even a small amount of these deadly drugs or had gotten possession of a loaded firearm. We are not resting on this one and will continue to go up the food chain to work to stem the flow of illegal drugs in Cherokee County. As always we continue to appreciate the public’s assistance in this and all of our cases.”
To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law please call 828-837-1344 or submit a tip at [email protected].
2021 arrest of 42 year old Barron Jermel Sudderth Baron Jermel Sudderth Cherokee County Cherokee County Sheriff's Office drug trafficking drugs Murphy Tommy Vaughn Dockery Jr
Three Million Dollars Worth of Processed Marijuana Seized
Featured Stories, Press Release December 14, 2021
In the early morning hours of Thursday, December 9, 2021, the Cherokee Indian Police Department (CIPD) responded to a domestic violence call at Harrah’s Valley River Casino. Upon arrival CIPD Patrol Officer Christopher Harris spoke with a male and female subject on foot near the casino and the casino hotel entrance. After speaking with both parties, Officer Harris determined an assault occurred and Brandon Thomas Jones, a 27-year-old male from Ten Mile, TN was charged with assault on a female, possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia.
When the female’s ride arrived, it was a U-Haul truck bearing a North Carolina (NC) issued Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) license plate. Officer Harris asked the driver about the license plate and after a brief conversation, the driver gave consent to search the vehicle. Additional Officers arrived on scene to assist with the search, where they located multiple loaded syringes, two firearms and over 900 pounds of processed marijuana. Daniel Jerry Wiggins, a 28 year old male, from Ten Mile, TN was charged with Trafficking a controlled substance, and displaying a fictitious tag.
The street value of the processed marijuana seized is approximately three million dollars.
Chief of Police Josh Taylor stated “ our Snowbird/ Murphy Division has been applying intense pressure to local law breakers on a daily basis. They work under staffed every day, yet come up big for us, producing great police work!” CIPD’s Narcotics great response time and teamwork is greatly appreciated as well as the assistance from the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office and the Murphy Police Department. Sergeant Jeremy Spencer is leading a great team and he is setting the example of great front line leadership! One team one fight!”
Additional charges are pending. The above named defendants have only been charged at this time and should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Brandon Thomas Jones Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Cherokee Indian Police Department Chief of Police Josh Taylor CIPD Patrol Officer Christopher Harris Daniel Jerry Wiggins Harrah’s Valley River Casino Murphy Police Department North Carolina (NC) issued Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Sergeant Jeremy Spencer