Pursuit on Blairsville Highway Leads to Arrest

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office

Press Release

On July 30, 2026, at approximately 8:47 p.m., a narcotics agent with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a motorcycle displaying no registration plate.

After the agent activated his emergency lights and siren, the motorcycle failed to stop, initiating a pursuit on Blairsville Highway. The pursuit ended safely when a civilian vehicle came to a stop in the roadway, allowing the agent to position his patrol vehicle alongside the motorcycle and prevent the operator from continuing to flee.

The agent safely apprehended the operator, who was identified as Waylon Radford of Murphy. Radford was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Cherokee County Detention Center.

Radford has been charged with the following offenses:

• Felony Flee to Elude Arrest with a Motor Vehicle

• Failure to Heed Lights and Siren

• Driving While License Revoked

• Failure to Register a Motor Vehicle

• Speeding

A North Carolina magistrate issued Radford an unsecured bond in the amount of $1,000.

Sheriff Chris Wood commended the actions of the deputies involved in bringing the incident to a safe conclusion.

"I am thankful for the efforts of our deputies to safely bring this incident to a conclusion," Sheriff Wood said. "What could have been resolved with a traffic citation instead resulted in an arrest because the driver chose to flee. Anyone who decides to run from law enforcement should understand that North Carolina law imposes serious consequences for those actions."

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.