Clay County Deputies Arrest Two on Drug, Weapons Charges

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Clay County authorities arrested two men Tuesday on felony drug and weapons charges in separate incidents, according to reports from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 4:25 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a neighborhood disturbance at 9 Big Rock Drive in Hayesville. The disturbance was reportedly caused by Marke Jama Holland, a convicted felon who was shooting a firearm at his residence. Preliminary research by Clay County Lt. Bruce Moore indicated Holland was convicted of assault inflicting serious bodily injury in 2008.

N.C. Probation Officer Michelle Miles, who supervises Holland and has authority for warrantless searches, was notified. Miles, along with Clay County Investigator JJ Wooten, Sgts. Will Suggs and Corey Scroggs, and Officers Donovan Burke and Nate Rogers, went to the residence and informed Holland of the complaint. A search of the home began.

Officers seized a Glock .45-caliber pistol and a KelTec .22-caliber pistol from a safe in a closet. An American Tactical Bulldog 20-gauge shotgun was found under a bed. Items of drug paraphernalia and suspected marijuana were also recovered. Holland was arrested on a felony charge of possession of a firearm by a felon. The search was paused, and the residence was secured while a search warrant was obtained.

Investigator Wooten obtained a search warrant from the magistrate’s office and returned to the home. A further search yielded a white powdery substance in a pill bottle, a set of scales, plastic baggies, a pill crusher, and a pill bottle containing 10 blue pills.

In addition to the firearms charge, Holland was charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, felony maintaining a dwelling for drugs, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held at the Clay County Detention Center with no bond.

Earlier Tuesday, at about 12:10 p.m., Clay County Lt. Brandon Coker stopped a Chevrolet Avalanche at 8620 U.S. Highway 64 East in Hayesville for excessive speeding. The driver was identified as Dwight Jack Wilemon, 61, of Marble. Coker determined Wilemon’s driver’s license was suspended and that he had an outstanding warrant from Union County, Ga., for a probation violation related to a methamphetamine conviction.

Cherokee County Narcotics Investigator Parker Southard arrived to assist. A search of the vehicle turned up a crushed cigarette pack on the front passenger floorboard that contained a small baggy of suspected methamphetamine and a red straw commonly used to ingest illegal substances.

Wilemon was arrested and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, felony maintaining a vehicle for drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license revoked, and speeding. He was transported to the Clay County Detention Center and held under a $20,000 secured bond.