Former Police Officer Sentenced To Probation In Assault Case
(Asheville, NC) -- A former Asheville police officer is set to serve probation for assaulting a black pedestrian almost two years ago. Christopher Hickman took a plea deal on Friday that will require 12-months of probation and completion of a restorative justice program. District Attorney Todd Williams says Hickman and the victim, Johnnie Rush, sat down together last fall, where the former officer apologized and took responsibility. All the charges will be expunged from Hickman's record if he meets the requirements of probation and the program.
Asheville High To Make Historic Hire For Athletic Director
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville High School is making a historic decision on the hiring of its new athletic director. The Citizen-Times is reporting Sonita Warren-Dixon will be named to the position today, making her the first African-American to serve as an athletic director in western North Carolina. She'll also be the school's first female AD. Asheville High's girl's basketball team has won three state titles under Warren-Dixon.
Business Owner Arrested For Allegedly Swindling Customers' Money
(Henderson County, NC) -- A Henderson County business owner is charged for allegedly defrauding his customers. Several citizens told WLOS-TV last month that they had paid thousands of dollars for gravestones from Custom Monuments of Fletcher, but had seen nothing in return. Deputies arrested Darryl McMahan on Thursday on two dozen counts of obtaining property by false pretense. More charges could be on the way as the investigation continues.
Driver Dies In Single-Car Wreck
(Buncombe County, NC) -- The state highway patrol is investigating a wreck that killed a Leicester man on Friday. Troopers say the man's truck went off New Leicester Highway about nine miles north of Asheville and overturned. There were no other cars involved. The man was reportedly not buckled in at the time.
Asheville Police Seeking Missing Woman
(Asheville, NC) -- Asheville police need the public's help in finding a missing 26-year-old woman. Investigators say they believe Bobbi Krista Nowocien may be traveling with a man wanted on two outstanding warrants. It's possible they may have already left the area and are on the way to Florida. WLOS-TV reports her last whereabouts are unknown, but Nowocien was reported missing by her family.
Most French Broad Watershed Sites Test High For E. Coli
(Asheville, NC) -- The levels of E.Coli in the French Broad Watershed remain high for many bodies of water. Experts with MountainTrue say 22 of 33 sites tested on August 7th failed to meet EPA standards. A French Broad Riverkeeper credits the levels to heavy rains at the beginning of the week. He says E.Coli levels will be elevated in muddy conditions, and safe when rivers run clear.
Gaston County One-Year-Old Dies In Accident
(Dallas, NC) -- The death of a one-year-old in Gaston County is being called a tragic accident. Gaston County EMS says a one-year-old died after being hit by a car at a home near downtown Dallas on Sunday morning. The child was reportedly in a blind spot when an adult tried moving the car in the backyard. Dallas police are continuing to investigate.
Teen Arrested For Charlotte Murder
(Charlotte, NC) -- A teenager is facing murder charges in Charlotte's 70th homicide of 2019. A 19-year-old was shot to death on Friday night outside a unit at Sharon Point Apartment Homes on Amity Pointe Road. Officers arrested 17-year-old Juan Lopez-Garcia for murder. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles told WBTV on Saturday that we have to reach out to people having difficulty and prevent them from using violence.
Dirt Bike Rider Dies In Wreck
(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating a deadly dirt bike crash. Officers say West Boulevard at Barringer Drive was completely closed last night for the investigation. Details on exactly what happened haven't been released, but the dirt bike was the only vehicle involved. The driver died at the scene.
Panthers Moving To Mobile Ticketing
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Carolina Panthers are making a push to go full-mobile on football tickets this season. The Charlotte Observer reports the team will begin its move to mobile ticketing for this Friday's preseason home opener against the Buffalo Bills. That means fans need to be prepared to scan their phones at the gate rather than using a paper ticket. Anyone who doesn't have smartphone capabilities is asked to call the team's ticket office.
Charlotte Cidery Named One Of Nation's Best
(Charlotte, NC) -- A Charlotte cidery is called one of the nation's best in a new study. News research company Hoodline listed Red Clay Ciderworks as number eleven overall out of more than 800 nationwide. Red Clay was the first cidery to open in the Queen City four years ago. Hoodline also ranked GoodRoad Ciderworks on Southside Drive at number 49.
Heat Index Reaching Over Triple Digits Tuesday
(Charlotte, NC) -- The heat index is expected to reach dangerous levels again in the Queen City tomorrow. A humid air mass will make Tuesday's high in the mid-90s feel more like it's close to 105-degrees. The National Weather Service is urging residents to use extreme caution if participating in any outdoor activities. Today's high will top out in the low-90s.
Raleigh Police Hunt For Suspect In Shooting Death Of Sanderson High Grad
(Raleigh, NC) -- Raleigh police are searching for suspects in the fatal weekend shooting of a recent Sanderson High grad. Police say Desmond Myles Jenkins was fatally shot late Friday night at a house in north Raleigh. The 18-year-old Jenkins played basketball at Sanderson, where he was popular with his coaches and classmates. He was to start classes in a few weeks at Vance-Granvill Community College to continue his education and his basketball career.
Suspect Arrested In Deadly Johnston County Shooting
(Selma, NC) -- Johnston County authorities say a suspect is in custody after a deadly shooting in Selma. It happened a little before 7 p.m. Sunday at a home on Buffalo Road. The Johnston County Sheriff's office says one person was killed.
Man Accused Of Threatening Police At Wilkesboro Walmart
(Wilkesboro, NC) -- A man is charged with pointing a gun and making threats outside a Walmart in Wilkesboro. Jimmy Minton is accused of pointing a weapon at police before running into the store and prompting an evacuation Saturday evening. The 29-year-old Minton eventually dropped his weapon, which turned out to be a pellet gun. No one was hurt but people were terrified in the incident that happened just one week after a gunman killed 22 people at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.
FBI Called In After Explosives Dropped Off At Wayne County Fire Station
(Wayne County, NC) -- Wayne County authorities are calling in the FBI after someone dropped off explosives at a fire station. The Wayne County Sheriff's office says a person laid items that turned out to be explosives at the entrance of the Dudley Volunteer Fire Department Sunday afternoon. Fire volunteers called sheriff's officers, who called explosives experts from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and the state Bureau of Investigation. The sheriff's office says a robot moved the explosives to a location where they were "rendered safe."
Siler City Restaurant Runs Out Of Food In Show Of Support After Racist Letter
(Siler City, NC) -- A new soul food restaurant in Siler City is closed today because it ran out of food when customers packed the place after it got a threatening, racist letter. A&I's Chicken Shack had been open only two weeks when a letter filled with racial slurs arrived and owner Andre Chaney posted it on Facebook. The letter signed White Nationalists ended with a threat that included the phrase, "when we re-elect our president it will be an all-out war against (expletive) like you...leave town or we will help you." Restaurant owner Andre Chaney on Sunday posted thanks to the Siler City community, Chatham County Sheriff's Department, West Chatham NAACP chapter, and said A&I's Chicken Shack will reopen Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Man Accused Of Causing Scene At Wilkesboro Walmart
(Wilkesboro, NC) -- A man is charged with communicating threats after an incident outside a Walmart in Wilkesboro. It happened Saturday evening off West U.S. Highway 421. Jimmy Minton is accused of pointing a weapon at police before fleeing into the Walmart and prompting an evacuation. Minton eventually dropped his weapon, which turned out to be a pellet gun. He's also charged with assault, larceny, possession of stolen items, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice. No one was hurt.
Man Charged With Attempted Murder In Asheboro
(Asheboro, NC) -- A man is charged with attempted murder after opening fire at a night club in Asheboro. The scene unfolded yesterday morning at the Rey Azteca Event Center on North Fayetteville Street. Police say Gilberto Rivas shot a man who was found lying in the woods nearby. Rivas was arrested and booked into the Randolph County jail on a one-million-dollar bond. Police say the victim was not badly hurt.
Vehicle Catches Fire At Greensboro Gas Station
(Greensboro, NC) -- No one is hurt after a vehicle caught fire at a gas station in Greensboro. It happened yesterday at the Sunoco on Bessemer Avenue. Police say the car caught fire as the driver was pumping gas. Firefighters responded and quickly got the flames under control. The cause of the blast is not clear, but police say the car was running at the time.
Eden Teen Charged With Murder In Shooting Death Of Man
(Eden, NC) -- An Eden teenager is in jail in connection with the shooting death of a 60-year-old man. It happened early yesterday morning on Anderson Street. Police found Michael Broadnax suffering multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the hospital where he died. Kalai Maxwell was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. Police did not reveal a possible motive.
Bullets Fired In High Point Hit Little Girl's Pillow
(High Point, NC) -- No one is hurt after a bullet hit a little girl's pillow in High Point. Shots were fired at the home on Meadowbrook Boulevard Saturday morning. The family tells FOX 8 three children and an adult were asleep at the time. They say the walls, doors and one of the children's pillows were riddled in bullets. No arrests have been made.