Hayesville Man Arrested on Methamphetamine Charges After Dropping Needle

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — A Hayesville man was arrested on felony drug charges after dropping a hypodermic needle in a local business, authorities said.

Steven Michael Foster, 38, was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine following an incident on July 23, 2025, according to a press release from Clay County Sheriff Marck Buchanan.

At approximately 2:34 p.m., an employee at the Local Market in Hayesville reported seeing Foster drop a hypodermic needle in the lobby area shared with a McDonald’s restaurant. Clay County 911 Dispatch notified sheriff’s officers, and Lt. Tyler Faggard responded to the scene.

Faggard located Foster walking near the State Employees Credit Union and questioned him about the contents of his bookbag. Foster admitted to carrying needles and “dope,” the sheriff’s office said. A search of the bookbag revealed a hypodermic needle, a smoking pipe for illegal substances, and two baggies containing a crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

Foster was arrested and transported to the Clay County Detention Center, where he was held without bond due to a prior methamphetamine-related charge for which he was already out on bond.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released additional details.