By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Shelby police Chief Brad Fraser with some of the dedicated officers of The Shelby Police Department | Photo by Chuck Thompson Shelby City Park – Once again, the rain showed up for National Night Out as it did last year, but that didn't keep first responders and families away from the fun at The Shelby City Park. Less than perfect weather caused vendor and organization booths to be moved indoors, but the rain dwindled to a sprinkle

Staff reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office On Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, at approximately 4:26 p.m., deputies with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a firearm being discharged in the area of 211 Boyles Rd. in Lawndale. Upon arrival, deputies located an individual lying unresponsive in the front yard of the residence with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the upper chest. Deputies immediately began lifesaving measures while awaiting the arr

Staff reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office Photo courtesy of The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office. CRIME – Cleveland County is a safer place thanks to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). On Aug. 1, 2026, The CCSO Interdiction Team assisted Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) crime, gun and suppression unit with a narcotics investigation involving Walter AJavier Villeda-Ayala. The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Community Interdiction Team obse

Making a difference one tip at a time By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Cleveland County Crime Stoppers Board poses for a photo after their July meeting. | Chuck Thompson CRIME / FEATURE – Rebooted in 2022 after a dormant period of several years in Cleveland County, Crime Stoppers has been making a difference across the county by encouraging people to call in tips that lead to arrests, making the streets safer for residents across all four corners of Cleveland Count

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Hendrik Hagenkord, left, with BSPD Chief Brian DiYorio inside the Boiling Springs Police Department. | Chuck Thompson Boiling Springs, N.C. – Schützen und dienen. Protect and serve. You can say it in any language, and the motto remains the same. That was something Hendrik Hagenkord, a German police officer, discovered when he visited Boiling Springs, North Carolina, recently. Hagenkord is from the city of Wuppertal, Germany. Located

By Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent and staff reports | Cleveland County Government A tragic accident on Highway 74 on Monday morning claimed the life of a Cleveland County EMS paramedic, who also served as a field training officer. According to reports, the accident happened sometime around 8 a.m. this morning, in Gaston County, near the Gaston-Cleveland County line. Paramedic / Field Training Officer Ashley Moore, 37, was killed in the accident. Cleveland County governme

By Jeff Yates | The Sunday Column | Special Guest Columnist Cleveland County Crime Stoppers Inc is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation serving the residents of Cleveland County through our partnership with all four of our Law Enforcement Agencies: Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Police Department, Kings Mountain Police Department and Boiling Springs Police Department. Our partnership is based on technology that allows a person (tipster) to anonymously provide inform

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine were confiscated. photo provided by CCSO CRIME – Cleveland County streets are a little safer after three different types of illegal drugs and one controlled substance were seized and several were arrested on alleged trafficking charges. On June 16, 2026, investigators with the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division concluded a multi-month conspiracy drug investigation that

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office Margaret Hager Greene CRIME – Cleveland County is a little safer and a woman is behind bars after a seizure of narcotics this past Friday by the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Community Interdiction Team (CIT). In a press release sent to media on Monday evening, it stated of a vehicle search which resulted in a reported arrest of Margaret Hager Greene. On Friday, June 12, members of the CIT encountered a suspicious vehicle

Press release | North Carolina Police Benevolent Association The North Carolina Police Benevolent Association, a division of the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, is the largest law enforcement association in the state, representing law enforcement officers through legal, legislative and advocacy services. We are aware of the video circulating regarding the May 29 arrest incident in Shelby, North Carolina. Like many members of the public, we have viewed the vid

Staff reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office press release CRIME – On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, a joint criminal interdiction operation conducted by the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office C.I.T. Team and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office A.C.E. Team resulted in the seizure of more than two kilograms of fentanyl and the arrest of a Charlotte man. During the operation, deputies initiated a traffic stop on Highway 74. After initial contact with law enforcement, the suspect,

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent | SBI staff reports Hyder (Photo from SBI Facebook page) SHELBY – The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has charged former Shelby Police Officer Karson Hyder, 22, with one count of assault inflicting serious injury. In a statement released Monday morning around 11 a.m. on social media, The SBI announced the formal charge. According to the statement, Hyder turned himself in to the Cleveland County Detention Center at

Staff Reports | State Bureau of Investigation SBI logo Shelby – The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has initiated an investigation into an allegation of excessive use of force by an officer with the Shelby Police Department. The request for an independent investigation was made by the Shelby Police Chief and the Cleveland County District Attorney. SBI agents have already begun and will work to complete the investigation as efficiently as possible while ensu

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Shelby City Manager Justin Merritt speaks Saturday morning at the podium in council chambers addressing Friday's incident. Fraser announced the officer had been fired. | Video still City of Shelby video Shelby – The City of Shelby posted an updated video statement Saturday morning in regard to the Friday morning incident of an officer seen on a viral video, circulating social media, repeatedly punching a female suspect. “As of 8:30

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Chief of Police Brad Fraser speaks from the podium in the City of Shelby Council chambers Friday evening. | City of Shelby video still SHELBY – A video circulating social media which shows a police officer using excessive force against a female suspect has caused an uproar across Shelby, which caused the City of Shelby to release statement at 6 p.m., Friday, regarding the event. In the video, which starts with the altercation alre

Staff Reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office File crime | The Shelby Independent CRIME — The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division executed a search warrant on May 14, 2026, concluding a months-long investigation into a residence at 130 Shady Ln. in Mooresboro, NC. The operation resulted in the seizure of illegal narcotics and weapons, leading to the arrest of Stephanie Walton. Authorities recovered a variety of controlled substances and firearms during th

Staff Reports Wilson was captured Tuesday night. Kings Mountain, NC — A reported Kings Mountain home invasion suspect is now behind bars. Over the weekend, the Kings Mountain Police Department responded to a home invasion incident in the Lake Montonia area of Kings Mountain. Since that time, investigators have worked tirelessly to pursue leads and conduct an extensive investigation to locate the suspect. As a result of those efforts, and with the assistance of our neighboring

Lance Hamrick | Asst. Chief, Kings Mountain Police Dept. Michael Cody Wilson was reportedly identified as the suspect in the home invasion. Kings Mountain, N.C. — The Kings Mountain Police Department is actively investigating a home invasion that occurred on May 9, 2026, at approximately 5:55 a.m. in the Lake Montonia area of Kings Mountain. During the incident, the suspect, identified as Michael Cody Wilson, allegedly entered an occupied residence while armed with a sawed-of

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent Boiling Springs Town Hall and Police Department sign out by College Ave. | Chuck Thompson BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Have you checked your wallet for funny money lately? Counterfeit bills have shown up in Boiling Springs, and the Boiling Springs Police Department want you to be on the lookout for anything funny, or fishy when it comes to currency, as it could spread across the county. In a statement released earlier today, Thursday, Apr

Staff reports | Cleveland County Sheriff's Office The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office released an official statement Wednesday afternoon regarding a now fired detention officer who has been charged and arrested for "Sexual Activity by a Custodian." The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office received information from an inmate regarding possible misconduct involving Detention Officer David Todd Morrow. The Sheriff’s Office immediately initiated both a criminal and internal invest