On Wednesday, August 4, 2021, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop due to multiple motor vehicle violations. During the course of the traffic stop, a probable cause search was conducted which yielded a total of twenty kilos of suspected cocaine. As a result, Mr. Juan Francisco Lopez was charged with Trafficking Cocaine by Possession and Trafficking Cocaine by Transportation. This investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.

Juan Francisco Lopez
W/M/35
99 Woodsage Ln, Elon, NC
Charges:
Trafficking Cocaine by Possession
Trafficking Cocaine by Transportation
Bond: $250,000 Secured

If anyone has any information regarding the distribution of controlled substances within Alamance County, please contact the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office at 336-570-6300 and request to speak with a narcotics investigator. You may also report anonymously to Alamance County Crime Stoppers at 336-229-7100 or download the mobile app P3Tips. 

On July 28, 2021, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office responded to Pinelake Mobile Home Park in reference to an alleged stabbing. Once on scene, deputies made contact with the suspect, Mr. Tadd Watson, who had gotten into an altercation with the victim over a power saw. He admitted to using a “hawkbill” knife to attack the victim, but he claimed it was self-defense. Mr. Watson also admitted to grabbing and pushing another person who was on scene.

After a search of the residence, deputies found several firearms and narcotics. Mr. Watson was charged and taken to the Alamance County Detention Center and given a $95,000 secured bond. 

Tadd Matthew Watson
2422 S. NC 119, Lot 49
W/M/35
Charges:
(M) Assault with a Deadly Weapon
(M) Assault on a Female
(F) Possession of a Firearm by a Felon
(F) Possession of a Stolen Firearm
(F) Possession of Cocaine
(M) Possession of Marijuana
(M) Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Throughout the month of July and into the first few days of August, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, Burlington Police Department, and Graham Police Department have received multiple reports of shootings into occupied dwellings and other structures that are believed to be all related to the same group of individuals.

Most of the shootings involved vehicles and traditional “drive-by” shootings.  In addition, law enforcement believes that the individuals are juveniles between the ages of 15-17.  As of now, there has been one incident that resulted in someone being struck by the gunfire.  However, in many of the houses that have been hit, there were numerous close calls with victims only inches away from the path of bullets. The investigation into these shootings is ongoing, and law enforcement agencies are working together to identify and charge the individuals responsible.

The law enforcement agencies in Alamance County are requesting the public’s help in the following ways:

• Lock your vehicles. The individuals involved in these shootings almost always utilize stolen vehicles. The common M.O. is to go to a subdivision or apartment complex and pull on door handles until they find one open. If keys are in the car, they steal it and then use it to facilitate the commission of crimes. Furthermore, they are searching these unlocked vehicles for firearms to steal and have been very successful so far. Do not leave firearms in your vehicle.
• If you have a teenager, know where they are. Also, please keep up with who they communicate with on social media. These individuals are using various social media accounts to communicate with each other, and many times they use accounts that are completely unknown to their parents or guardians.
• See something, say something. If you hear information about the shootings, no matter how small it may be, report it to your local law enforcement agency or Alamance County Crime Stoppers (336-229-7100 or download the mobile app P3Tips).  The report can be completely anonymous and may be the crucial piece of information needed to stop a future shooting.

On July 23, 2021, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen vehicle in Liberty, NC at approximately 5:00 p.m. A witness described Brandon Dakota Langley as the suspect.  Alamance County Sheriff’s Office deputies identified the suspect driving the vehicle in Burlington later that evening and subsequently arrested the suspect without incident. 

Brandon Dakota Langley       
W/M/23 
10807 S. NC 49 Hwy Liberty, NC    
Charges:
F-BREAKING AND OR ENTERING 
M-POSS STOLEN GOODS/PROP 
F-LARCENY OF MOTOR VEHICLE 
Bond:
$20,000.00 Secured Bond

On July 23, 2021, an Alamance County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop because the driver was failing to maintain the lane when turning onto Garrett Drive. Due to the odor of marijuana, an exterior K9 sniff was conducted in which the K9 indicated that there were narcotics inside the vehicle. Deputies then conducted a thorough vehicle search and found three (3) black bags containing (20 grams) marijuana in the roadway, one (1) blue bag containing (25 grams) cannabis edibles located in the center console of the vehicle, fifteen (15) rounds of 9mm ammunition, one handgun magazine located underneath the passenger seat of the vehicle, and a handgun located underneath the passenger seat of the vehicle. 

The driver was identified as Dwight Maurice Bass II and charged for possession of firearm by felon and taken to the Alamance County Detention Center.
 

DWIGHT MAURICE BASS
3712 MERIWETHER DRIVE, DURHAM NC 27704
B/M/25
CHARGE:
F-POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON
BOND: $1,000

On Sunday, July 25, 2021, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Alamance County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Gibsonville Ossipee Road and Lowe Road. During the course of the traffic stop, a K-9 was deployed onto the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and deputies discovered a handgun which had been reported stolen as well as marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia. The driver, Michael Dean Gulley, was charged and transported to the Alamance County Detention Center.
 
Michael Dean Gulley
W/M/33  
973 Kernodle Rd., Gibsonville, NC
Charges:
(F) Possession of Stolen Firearm
(M) Possession of Marijuana
(M) Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia
Additionally, driver had outstanding FTA (Failure to appear from Alamance County)
Bond: $10,000

On Thursday, July 29, 2021, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit conducted a traffic stop on Maple Avenue in Burlington, NC. Mr. Orenthreo Holt who was a passenger in the vehicle was taken into custody for an outstanding assault warrant. A search of  Mr. Holt resulted in deputies locating approximately five grams of crack cocaine. Deputies then searched the vehicle which resulted in approximately .3 grams of crack cocaine. 

Mr. Orenthreo Holt was taken into custody for the outstanding warrant as an additional charge of possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. A second passenger, Ms. Misty Paylor, was also taken into custody for possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

If anyone has any information regarding the distribution of controlled substances within Alamance County, please contact the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office at 336-570-6300 and request to speak with a narcotics investigator.

Orenthreo Seaton Holt
B/M DOB: 43
809 Power St. Burlington, NC

Misty Marie Paylor
B/F DOB: 25
712 S. Sellars St. Burlington, NC