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100 Grams of Meth, Barricades and Uzi: Avery County Sheriff’s Deputies Escape Possible Ambush

100 grams of meth and an uzi were among the items seized.
100 grams of meth and an uzi were among the items seized.

July 22, 2014. Avery County Sheriff Kevin Frye announced the arrest of two individuals after deputies escaped a possible ambush last week.

Pritchard
Pritchard

On July 17 at about 10 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a reported breaking and entering in progress at 155 Old Plumtree Creek Rd. Upon arrival, officers located one of the suspects sitting in a car in the driveway of the residence and another suspect standing just outside the house. As officers began speaking with the person inside the car, the second suspect ran back inside the house and into a bedroom where he shut the door.

Officers were able to make contact with and arrest both suspects. The suspect who ran into the house had also opened and turned over a recliner, appearing to be ready for a barricade and the Uzi which was found with ammo jammed, making it inoperative. Charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and trafficking in methamphetamine were Daymon Isaac Pritchard, 25, of 852 Big Horse Creek Rd. in Newland and Levi Cody Hicks, 26, of 6210 U.S. 19 East in Newland.

LEVI CODY HICKS
Hicks

Officers also located a semi-automatic .22 caliber pistol which was in possession of one of the suspects and reported to have been stolen.

Both suspects were detained at the Avery County Jail where Pritchard was held under a $200,000 secured bond and Hicks under a $250,000 secured bond.  Approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine was seized.

Other ACSO Briefs 

On July 18, 2014, at about 10:15 p.m., officers arrested Danny Mack Davis, 43, of 180 Ingram Branch Rd. in Roan Mountain, Tenn., for failure to appear in court, possession of schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Davis was held in the Avery County Jail on $21,000 secured bond.

On July 20, 2014 pursuant to a traffic stop, two individuals were arrested after a quantity of drugs was found inside the vehicle. Arrested was Crystal Lynne Newton, 30, of 3233 Clark Loop in Morganton. She was charged with possession with intent to sell/deliver methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine.  Newton is being held on a $40,000 secured bond.

Also arrested was Danielle La-rae Eldreth, 22, of 5131 Crawley Dale St. in Morganton.  She is charged with possession with intent to sell/deliver methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle and possession of methamphetamine.  Eldreth is being held on a $35,000 secured bond.