On Thursday morning June 23, 2022 at 3:00 a.m., Deputies received an alert that a silver Dodge Ram pickup truck was reported to be driving at a high rate of speed on W. Webb Ave. in Burlington. The truck was reportedly heading westbound towards Elon.

Available Deputies began heading to the intersection of N.C. 87 and University Dr. Deputies were then alerted that an Elon Campus Police Officer was attempting to stop the suspect vehicle on W. Haggard Ave. but the driver refused to stop. Two Deputies relocated to University Dr. and W. Haggard Ave. and observed the suspect vehicle which came through the intersection at a high rate of speed.

Deputies took over the pursuit and attempted a PIT maneuver (Pursuit Intervention Technique) which was unsuccessful. The driver rammed a Sheriff’s Office Patrol car and continued to flee into Guilford County. While in Guilford Co., the paved portion of the road ended becoming gravel. Deputies ended the pursuit.

There were no injuries. Both Sheriff’s Office patrol cars sustained damage.

On Thursday June 24, 2022, Deputies continued the investigation of the suspect vehicle. It was learned that Elon Campus Police had attempted to stop a vehicle earlier in the week which matched the description of the suspect vehicle.

As the investigation continued, Deputies located the vehicle and the driver on James Toney Dr. in Elon. The suspect, Tyler Manuel Lopez, was taken into custody and the vehicle was seized.  

Name:             Tyler Manuel Lopez W/M/26         

Address:         410 James Toney Dr., Elon, N.C.

Charges:         1ct: Felony Flee/Elude Arrest With Motor Vehicle

                        1ct: Felony Assault With Deadly Weapon on a Government Official

                        1ct: Fail to Heed Light/Siren

                        1ct: Speeding 110 in a 55 MPH Zone

                        1ct: Reckless Driving to Endanger Person/Property

                        1ct: Fail to Stop at Red Light

                        1ct: Driving While License Revoked

                        1ct: Misdemeanor Injury to Personal Property

                        1ct: Felony Flee/Elude Arrest With Motor Vehicle (Elon Campus Police)

Bond:              $50,000 secured 

In February 2022, Special Victims Unit Investigators attempted to verify the address of registered sex offender, Anthony Lurue Rand, Jr. Mr. Rand was registered as living at an address in Haw River, but could not be located for verification.

Investigators mailed a verification letter to Mr. Rand at the Haw River address, but the letter was returned unanswered. Investigators later learned that Mr. Rand moved to Durham, N.C. and was living there since February 2022.

After finally making phone contact with the suspect, Mr. Rand came to the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 where he was then arrested.

Name:             Anthony Lurue Rand, Jr.    B/M/37

Address:         405 E. Pilot St., Durham, NC 27707

Charges:         1ct: Felony Failure to Notify Address Change Within 3 Business Days

            1ct: Felony Failure to Return Verification Letter Within 3 Business Days

Bond:              $10,000 secured

In February 2022, investigators with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Human Exploitation Team began investigating a cyber tip. Investigators had reason to believe that an individual in the county uploaded child sexual abuse material files to Snapchat, a multimedia instant messaging app. The investigation led to a suspect residing on Quakenbush Rd., Snow Camp.

On Tuesday, June 21, 2022, the Human Exploitation Team and investigators with the Special Victims Unit, conducted a search warrant on Quakenbush Road. Investigators discovered files, images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Investigators identified the suspect as Dalton Paris Talley of the residence.

Mr. Talley was arrested and taken to the Alamance County Detention Center.

Name:                  Dalton Paris Talley         W/M/21

Address:              2665 Quakenbush Rd. Snow Camp, N.C.

Charges:              6 cts: Felony Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Bond:                    $300,000.00 secured

On June 16, 2022, Detectives from the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) received a report of Sexual Battery. Detectives interviewed the victim who stated Johnny Lee Bailey committed the acts which were said to have occurred in June of 2020.

After a forensic interview, Detectives found probable cause to charge Mr. Bailey who was arrested later the same day and taken to the Alamance County Detention Center.

Name:             Johnny Lee Bailey     W/M/52

Address:          507 Giles St, Mebane, N.C.

Charges:          1ct: Felony Sexual Battery

                        2cts Felony Indecent Liberties with Children

Bond:              $200,000 secured

On Tuesday May 14, 2022 at 10:01 a.m., Deputies responded to the 1700 block of Turner Rd, Mebane, N.C. in reference to a male victim who had been struck by a vehicle. The Highway Patrol began the initial investigation. Throughout the investigation, it was learned that the victim, Terrence Evans Jr., had been struck by his wife, Bethany Brooke Stapleton. The investigation revealed that Ms. Stapleton struck Mr. Evans with her vehicle while he was walking on Turner Rd. Mr. Evans was transported to a local hospital.

Deputies also learned that Ms. Stapleton later left Alamance Co. and traveled to Georgia.

Warrants were obtained for Ms. Stapleton who was taken into custody in Georgia and extradited to North Carolina where she was served with outstanding warrants. Ms. Stapleton was booked into the Alamance County Detention Center on Thursday June 9, 2022.

Name:             Bethany Brooke Stapleton     W/F/28

Address:          14 Academy St., Ludowici, GA.

Charges:          1ct: Felony Assault With a Deadly Weapon With Intent To Kill Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury

Bond:              $10,000

On Saturday June 18, 2022 at 6:40 a.m., Deputies observed a suspicious person sitting on the south side of 115 S Maple St. (Board of Elections) holding a large knife.  The subject was identified as Melissa Marie King.  Ms. King advised that she is homeless in the Graham NC area and advised that she was using the knife to remove her fingernail polish.

The knife was then removed from Ms. King’s possession.  It was discovered that Ms. King had an outstanding Order for Arrest for Felony Probation Violation.  Ms. King was then placed under arrest.  While searching Ms. King’s property illegal narcotics were located in Ms. King’s possession.

Ms. King was charged and taken to the Alamance County Detention Center.

Name:             Melissa Marie King    W/F/37 

Address:         Homeless Graham, N.C

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Charges:        1ct: Felony Possession Methamphetamine

1ct: Misdemeanor Possession Schedule IV (Xanax)

1ct: Misdemeanor Possession Drug Paraphernalia,

1ct: Felony Probation Violation

Bond: $40,000 secured

On Thursday evening June 16, 2022 at 11:14 p.m., Deputies responded to 5732 Rumley Rd. Graham, N.C. (near Saxapahaw) in reference to a cardiac arrest. The first Deputy on scene immediately administered CPR which continued until the arrival of Fire and EMS. The patient was later pronounced dead by EMS.

Deputies learned from witnesses that the patient, identified as Michael Thomas Hickok, was assaulted by Robert Daniel Terry. Witnesses told Deputies, that Mr. Terry came inside the residence asking for Mr. Hickok.  

Witnesses on scene stated to Deputies, that Mr. Terry began assaulting Mr. Hickok by striking him and strangling him. Witnesses also told Deputies that the victim and the suspect confronted each other earlier at the Community Shell of 87 South. What prompted the confrontation is still under investigation by Sheriff’s Office Investigators.

Mr. Terry was arrested a short time later and taken to the Alamance County Detention Center.

This is the first Alamance County Sheriff’s Office murder investigation of 2022.

Name:             Robert Daniel Terry   W/M/43

Address:          1107 Lakeside Ave. Ext., Burlington, N.C.

Charges:          1ct: Felony First Degree Murder

                    1ct: Felony Absconder

Bond:              None

On June 5, 2022, Detention Officers at the Alamance County Jail were attempting to de-escalate a situation with inmate Ali Asghari Sandi, in I-Block Cell 5. Inmate Sandi was seen purposefully damaging an Alamance County issued Paytel Itele-tablet inside his cell. Inmate Sandi defied the commands from the Detention Officers to give them the tablet back.

After defying commands multiple times, a Detention Officer unlocked cell 5 in I-Block, and attempted to retrieve the Intele-Tablet. At this time inmate Sandi then hit the Officer on the head with the Intele-Tablet, causing a laceration to the Officer’s head.

Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office were assigned the case. After viewing the injuries to the Detention Officer, inmate Sandi was charged with two felonies.

Name:             Ali Asghari Sandi      W/M/43         

Charges:        1ct: Felony Assault With a Deadly Weapon on a Government Official

1ct: Felony Damage to Government Computer

Bond:              $25,000 Secured

On Tuesday May 10, 2022, Detectives with the Alamance County Special Victims Unit received a report of sexual assault which was reported to have occurred earlier the same morning. During the investigation, probable cause was found to charge, Isaac Alan Vermillion with one count of 2^nd degree forcible sex offense.

As the investigation was ongoing, a second victim came forward and reported a sexual assault by Mr. Vermillion earlier in the year. During the investigation of the second report, probable cause was found to charge Mr. Vermillion with one count of 2^nd degree forcible sex offense.

Mr. Vermillion surrendered himself to law enforcement on Monday June 13, 2022.

Name:             Isaac Alan Vermillion                      W/M/19

Address:         6335 Double Eagle Dr, Whitsett NC 27377

Charges:        2 cts: Felony 2^nd Degree Forcible sex offense

Bond:              $100,000.00 secured

At around 04:50AM on June 13^th, 2022, Deputies located two stolen vehicles in the area of Tillman Street. The vehicles were stolen from a neighborhood off of Burch Bridge Rd earlier that morning.  Deputies attempted to stop the vehicles, one of which was a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 series truck.  The driver refused to stop, resulting in a vehicle pursuit. Deputies attempted a PIT maneuver to end the pursuit. The vehicle came to rest on Burch Bridge Rd near W. Old Glencoe Rd. At that time, two passengers exited the vehicle, and fled on foot.  A Deputy pursued one of the suspects. When the Deputy caught up with the suspect, there was a physical struggle, resulting in no injuries to any parties involved. The suspect was able to get away again temporarily, but was soon located and taken into custody.

The driver of the stolen truck was able to escape the ditch, by ramming the deputies patrol vehicles with the truck.  He fled, in the truck, towards Hwy 62, then onto W. Old Glencoe Rd.  He was involved in a collision within a mile after turning onto W. Old Glencoe, and was taken into custody by Deputies.

Both suspects taken into custody were juveniles, whose names cannot be released due to their age. It is believed that they may be responsible for numerous vehicle break-ins that occurred that same night, in the city of Burlington, and another vehicle larceny in Elon. All of the reported vehicles involved were left unlocked, with valuables left inside.   

This serves as a reminder to please lock your vehicle doors, do not leave keys or key fobs in your vehicle, and remove all valuables from inside your vehicle while they are unoccupied, especially firearms. The case is still under investigation.