Multiple Burglaries, Stolen Property Cases, and Drug Arrests Reported in Clay County

Clay County Sheriff's Office

Press Release

On 12/07/25 the burglary of a vacant residence located at 4459 Tusquittee Road in Hayesville was reported. This residence was vacant due to its owners being deceased.  The residence had been ransacked and numerous items of jewelry, wristwatches, power tools, I-Pads, a laptop computer, etc. were reported to have been stolen. Clay County Investigators Steven Smith and Brandon Coker as well as Officers Corey Scroggs and Donovan Burke responded and began an intensive investigation.  Items were also recovered at the residence and found to have been left by the perpetrator(s).  Investigator Smith eventually received information that Brian William Dixon, 46 years of age from Hayesville, and Steve Cassidy Stewart, 36 years of age from Hayesville, were working together to identify vacant residences of deceased owners for the purpose of burglarizing them.

Stewart was located, made a partial confession, and his cell phone was seized as evidence. Investigator Smith, using Cellebrite diagnostic equipment, was able obtain a complete full file system extraction from Stewart’s cell phone. Analysis of this information revealed searches for deceased persons’ homes, 14 potential residences to be burglarized, images of stolen property, and communications between Stewart and Dixon relating to burglaries. A vacant residence at 1123 Qualla Road in Hayesville was specifically identified from Stewart’s phone as a potential location to be broken into. This residence was found to have been burglarized, with its inside found in total disarray, and various items found to have been stolen. Dixon was located and confessed to Stewart and himself having burglarized both residences. Dixon and Stewart were arrested and charged with the two Second-Degree Burglaries, Felony Larcenies, and Distribution of Stolen Property. Stewart was also charged with Felony Possession of a Firearm by a Felon because of handguns he had been found in possession of.  

On the afternoon of 12/30/25, Clay County Sheriff Mark Buchanan received information that Robert Curtis Parker, 33 years of age from Hayesville, was at the Motors In Garage in Hayesville trying to sell an expensive motorcycle believed to have been stolen. Before Clay County Investigators could respond, N.C. Trooper Charlie Cheeks stopped a pickup truck hauling the motorcycle being driven by Parker. This traffic stop was made at the intersection of Herbert Hills and US 64 east in Hayesville. Clay County Investigator Brandon Coker and Sheriff Buchanan soon arrived at the scene of Trooper Cheeks’ traffic stop. The motorcycle was identified as a 2018 KTM 2090R that had been stolen out of Asheville.

Herman Gary Garrison, 54 years of age from Hayesville, was found to be a passenger within the truck. Garrison stated that the stolen motorcycle was his. Garrison was arrested and charged with Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and issued a $5000 secured bond for his release. Parker was allowed to leave the scene. Further investigation revealed that Parker had been in constructive possession of the motorcycle while actively attempting to sell it at the Motors In Garage. Senior Assistant District Attorney Jim Moore was consulted due to Parker being on pre-trial release for a multitude of other criminal charges. Moore authorized charges for Parker for Felony Possession of a Motor Vehicle and Felony Attempt to Obtain Property by False Pretense. On 12/31/25 these two additional felony charges were taken out for Parker.   

On 01/01/26 at 8:08 AM Clay County Sgt Will Suggs, Investigators Steven Smith and Brandon Coker arrived to 9535 Tusquittee Road and Hayesville after an abandoned 6X12’ enclosed trailer was found by the property owners at that location. The trailer was found over an embankment of a logging road, damaged, and broken into. The property owner at this location recalled seeing the trailer being pulled up Tusquittee Road on the morning of 12/31/25 by a plum-colored Nissan Rogue. Investigator Smith immediately recalled seeing Robert Curtis Parker, 33 years of age from Hayesville, and Brian William Dixon, 46 years of age from Hayesville, in this same vehicle the day before. This vehicle belonged to Parker’s mother.

The owner of the trailer was quickly identified and contacted about the theft of his trailer. The owner was a contractor who said it had been full of tools and was left at a residence under repair on Fires Creek Road. Investigators quickly located Dixon. Dixon confessed to the theft of this trailer and contents with Parker. It was also discovered that the location of this theft had a surveillance camera that identified both Dixon and Parker as being responsible. Both Dixon and Parker were charged with Felony Larceny of a Vehicle, Felony Breaking or Entering a Vehicle, and Felony Larceny. Dixon has been arrested and was issued a $140,000 secured bond for his release.

On 01/04/26 at 7:22 PM Clay County Investigators were working a drug interdiction operation when Lt. Tyler Faggard stopped a green GMC truck on Tusquittee Road near Moore Hill Road in Hayesville. The driver was found to be Steven Douglas Anderson, 28 years of age from Hayesville. Michael James Goode, 51 years of age from Hayesville, was found seated in the front passenger seat of the truck. An uninvolved female was found seated in the back of the truck. Clay County Investigator Steven Smith, with his K9 Luca, soon arrived on scene.

Luca was deployed around the truck and gave a positive alert for narcotics. A probable cause search of the truck yielded three vials of a yellow liquid, a pill bottle with 1.8 grams of a crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, a pill bottle containing Oxycodone, and miscellaneous other pills. During search activities, Lt. Faggard a small baggy with two glass pipes, a clear baggy containing suspected marijuana, and a small clear baggy corner containing a shite powder that field tested positive for Ketamine laying on the ground directly behind where Goode was directed by the Officers to stand. Goode eventually claimed ownership of the items seized during this operation. Goode was arrested and charged with Felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Methamphetamine (Schedule II), Felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Ketamine (Schedule III), Felony Maintaining a Vehicle for Drugs, Possession of a Oxycodone, and Possession of a Schedule III. Goode was issued a $42,000 secured bond for his release.