Featured Spotlight DRUG BUST Sheriff: 5,000 grams of mushrooms, 6,000 grams of marijuana, 268 grams meth seized in operation Mike Conley Jan 26, 2026 Jan 26, 2026 Updated Feb 17, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Twenty-two people were arrested as part of a monthslong operation in McDowell County.kAmsFC:?8 E96 A2DE D6G6C2= >@?E9D[ E96 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ $96C:77’D ~77:46 r@>>F?:EJ x>A24E %62> 42CC:65 @FE 2 E2C86E65 :?:E:2E:G6 <?@H? 2D ~A6C2E:@? (:?E6C uC66K6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 ?6HD C6=62D6 7C@> E96 D96C:77VD @77:46]k^AmkAm%96 677@CE E2C86E65 :==682= 5CF8 24E:G:EJ E9C@F89@FE |4s@H6== r@F?EJ 2?5 C6DF=E65 :? D6:KFC6D 2?5 ?F>6C@FD 2CC6DED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ?6HD C6=62D6]k^AmkAm“s2J 27E6C 52J[ @FC rx% E62> H@C<D 369:?5 E96 D46?6D[ 7@==@H:?8 FA @? E:AD[ 3F:=5:?8 42D6D[ 2?5 DE2J:?8 4@>>:EE65 E@ E96 E2D< 2E 92?5[” D2:5 $A64:2= ~A6C2E:@?D s:G:D:@? r2AE] r9C:D %2J=@C] “%9:D :D 2? :?4C65:3=6 8C@FA — E96J 2C6 565:42E65 2?5 56E6C>:?65 E@ 249:6G6 2 DF446DD7F= @FE4@>6]”k^Am People are also reading… Lake James beach day, music highlight free things to around McDowell County area this weekend Should McDowell County's sales tax increase? Voters to decide this fall Opening soon? The Madness, Copper Penny Grill still coming to Marion, owners say The Madness holds soft opening of the new Marion restaurant Marion man gets multiple drug charges after SWAT Team search Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young bonds with WRs on 4-wheelers, horseback McDowell EMS, 38 other agencies get slice of $10 million in state funding 1,000 jobs coming to North Carolina in new Corning, Amazon data center deal Insider: Panthers reportedly have visions of Jonathon Brooks becoming lead RB over Hubbard What was happening in McDowell County in June 250 years ago? Historian tells us McDowell County Democrats open new headquarters Hickory Crawdads offensive powerhouse, Hector Osorio, gets promoted to High-A McDowell High School graduation is Friday. Shuttles to run from three parking areas Two McDowell students among 215 to receive Golden LEAF scholarships Asheville man sentenced for Blue Ridge Parkway attack Money, drugs and weapons seized in Operation Winter Freeze. SUBMITTED PHOTO kAmpD 2 C6DF=E @7 ~A6C2E:@? (:?E6C uC66K6[ 56E64E:G6D D6:K65 E96 7@==@H:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ?6HD C6=62D6ik^AmkF=mk=:md[_gg]g 8C2>D @7 AD:=@4J3:? WADJ49656=:4X >FD9C@@>Dk^=:mk=:me[e`e 8C2>D @7 >2C:;F2?2k^=:mk=:me]d 8C2>D @7 4C24< 4@42:?6k^=:mk=:mb]d 8C2>D @7 4@42:?6k^=:mk=:maeg 8C2>D @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6k^=:mk=:m`he]f 8C2>D @7 76?E2?J=k^=:mk=:m_]a 8C2>D @7 96C@:?k^=:mk=:mu:G6 7:C62C>Dk^=:mk=:mu:G6 )2?2I A:==Dk^=:mk=:m~?6 DE@=6? >@\A65k^=:mk=:m~?6 DE@=6? G69:4=6k^=:mk^F=mkAmx? E@E2=[ ~A6C2E:@? (:?E6C uC66K6 =65 E@ D6G6? H2CC2?E 2CC6DED[ E9C66 7:C62C>D\C6=2E65 2CC6DED 2?5 ba 5CF8\C6=2E65 2CC6DED]k^Am kAm|4s@H6== $96C:77 #:4<J %] qF492?2? AC2:D65 E96 H@C< @7 E96 E62>[ DE2E:?8[ “%9:D @A6C2E:@? :D 2 C67=64E:@? @7 E96 92C5 H@C< 2?5 565:42E:@? AFE :? 3J @FC 56E64E:G6D 52J 27E6C 52J] %96 r@>>F?:EJ x>A24E %62> 5:5 2? @FEDE2?5:?8 ;@3[ 2?5 E96:C 4@>>:E>6?E E@ <66A:?8 :==682= 5CF8D 2?5 52?86C@FD :?5:G:5F2=D @77 @FC DEC66ED >2<6D 2 C62= 5:776C6?46 7@C E96 D276EJ @7 @FC 4:E:K6?D :? |4s@H6== r@F?EJ]”k^Am Drugs seized in a McDowell County Sheriff's Office operation. SUBMITTED PHOTO kAmr9:67 s6AFEJ }2E92? |246 D2:5[ “(6 2C6 G6CJ 7@CEF?2E6 E@ 92G6 DF49 2 3C2G6 2?5 D92CA\>:?565 8C@FA @7 >6? 2?5 H@>6? — 2?5 E92E 2=D@ 6IE6?5D 36J@?5 @FC @77:46 E@ E96 DFCC@F?5:?8 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 286?4:6D 2D H6==[ H9@ 2=D@ DFAA@CE E96D6 677@CED E@ DEC6?8E96? @FC 4@>>F?:E:6D]”k^Am kAmqF492?2? D2:5 96 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ E92?< E96 |2C:@? !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E[ E96 qFC<6 r@F?EJ $96C:77’D ~77:46 2?5 E96 xC656== r@F?EJ $96C:77’D ~77:46 7@C E96:C A2CE?6CD9:A :? E96 @A6C2E:@?[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 4:E:K6?D @7 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ H9@ <66A 2 H2E497F= 6J6 2?5 D92C6 H92E E96J D66[ E96 C6=62D6 D2:5]k^AmkAm“(96? 286?4:6D 2?5 4:E:K6?D H@C< E@86E96C[ E96 492?46D @7 2 DF446DD7F= @FE4@>6 2C6 2=H2JD >F49 9:896C[” qF492?2? D2:5]k^Am kAmuC@> E96D6 677@CED[ E96 7@==@H:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D H6C6 492C865[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ?6HD C6=62D6ik^Am kF=mk=:m$@??J xD2:29 $>:E9[ ah[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J WEH@ 4@F?EDX EC277:4<:?8[ @A:F> @C 96C@:?[ 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 7:C62C> 3J 2 76=@? 2?5 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46]k^=:mk=:m%2J=6C }:49@=6 (C:89E[ ah[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6]k^=:mk=:ms2G:5 ~C@DE:42[ bh[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46]k^=:mk=:ms2??J {66 w2==[ db[ @7 }63@[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6[ >:D56>62?@C A@DD6DD:@? @7 >2C:;F2?2 WFA E@ ½ @F?46X 2?5 >:D56>62?@C 42CCJ:?8 2 4@?462=65 H62A@?]k^=:mk=:my6DD:42 r@I $A6?46C[ c`[ @7 }63@[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6[ 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46 2?5 >:D56>62?@C A@DD6DD:@? @7 5CF8 A2C2A96C?2=:2]k^=:mk=:mqC:2? p=2? |@CC:D[ be[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6[ 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46 2?5 >:D56>62?@C A@DD6DD:@? @7 5CF8 A2C2A96C?2=:2]k^=:mk=:my2>6D s] |4v:??:D[ b_[ @7 ~=5 u@CE[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6]k^=:mk=:my6??:76C p?86=:?2 p==6J[ be[ @7 }63@[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6 2?5 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 4@42:?6]k^=:mk=:my@9? |:4926= r=2C<[ ce[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46]k^=:mk=:m%@55 |:4926= ~==:D[ c_[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? H:E9 :?E6?E E@ >2?F724EFC6[ D6==[ @C 56=:G6C W!(x|$sX 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46[ 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6[ 76=@?J >2:?E2:? 2 G69:4=6^5H6==:?8^A=246 7@C 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46D[ >:D56>62?@C A@DD6DD:@? @7 >2C:;F2?2 WFA E@ ½ @F?46X 2?5 >:D56>62?@C A@DD6DD:@? @7 5CF8 A2C2A96C?2=:2]k^=:mk=:m%@?6J {J? rC27E |4v66[ ad[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6]k^=:mk=:my2>:6 s6?:D6 #:55=6[ bf[ @7 }63@[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46 H:E9 E96 :?E6?E E@ >2?F724EFC6[ D6==[ @C 56=:G6C 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46[ 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6[ 76=@?J >2:?E2:? 2 G69:4=6[ 5H6==:?8[ @C A=246 7@C 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46D[ >:D56>62?@C A@DD6DD:@? @7 >2C:;F2?2 WFA E@ ½ @F?46X 2?5 >:D56>62?@C A@DD6DD:@? @7 5CF8 A2C2A96C?2=:2]k^=:mk=:m#@5?6J ~’}62= {2G2?[ dh[ @7 w:4<@CJ[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 DE@=6? >@E@C G69:4=6[ 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46[ 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? H:E9 :?E6?E E@ >2?F724EFC6[ D6==[ @C 56=:G6C 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46 2?5 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 5CF8 A2C2A96C?2=:2]k^=:mk=:mrJ?E9:2 q2DD[ ce[ @7 }63@[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 DE@=6? G69:4=6]k^=:mk^F=m Twenty-two people arrested in a McDowell County Sheriff's Office operation. McDowell County Sheriff's Office kF=mk=:mpAC:= s2H? #2>D6J[ cc[ @7 }63@[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46 H:E9 E96 :?E6?E E@ >2?F724EFC6[ D6==[ @C 56=:G6C >6E92>A96E2>:?6[ 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6[ 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 4@42:?6 2?5 76=@?J >2:?E2:? 2 G69:4=6^5H6==:?8^A=246 7@C 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46D]k^=:mk^F=m Drugs seized in the McDowell County Sheriff's Office's Operation Winter Freeze. SUBMITTED PHOTO kF=mk=:mz6==: s2H? q@H6?[ ca[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46]k^=:mk=:my6DD:42 p?? |:E496==[ bf[ @7 |@C82?E@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46[ 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46 H:E9 E96 :?E6?E E@ >2?F724EFC6[ D6==[ @C 56=:G6C @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46 2?5 76=@?J EC277:4<:?8[ @A:F> @C 96C@:?]k^=:mk=:m$2>>J s@3D@? qFC=6D@?[ ab[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46 @? ;2:= AC6>:D6D 2?5 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46]k^=:mk=:my@D9F2 t5H2C5 q6?86[ cc[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 xx 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46]k^=:mk=:ms2CCJ= |2EE96H s2G:D[ c_[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 $4965F=6 x 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46 2?5 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 2 4@?EC@==65 DF3DE2?46 @? ;2:= AC6>:D6D]k^=:mk=:m%J=6C t5H2C5 %62DE6C[ ac[ @7 ~=5 u@CE[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6 2?5 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 DE@=6? 8@@5D]k^=:mk=:mz2J=2 |:496==6 #:49[ ad[ @7 |2C:@?[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 >6E92>A96E2>:?6 2?5 76=@?J A@DD6DD:@? @7 DE@=6? 8@@5D]k^=:mk^F=m k9am(92E :D E96 r@>>F?:EJ x>A24E %62>nk^9amkAm%96 r@>>F?:EJ x>A24E %62> 7@4FD6D @? AC@24E:G6 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 3J :56?E:7J:?8 4C:>6 EC6?5D 2?5 E2C86E:?8 AC@3=6> 2C62D E9C@F89@FE |4s@H6== r@F?EJ] %96 E62> H@C<D E@ C65F46 :==682= 24E:G:EJ E9C@F89 :?G6DE:82E:@?D[ E2C86E65 6?7@C46>6?E[ 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 6?8286>6?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ?6HD C6=62D6]k^Am kAm“~FC rx% E62> 5:C64ED :ED 7@4FD E@ 9:89\4@>A=2:?E EC277:4 2C62D H96C6 DFDA64E65 4C:>:?2= 24E:G:EJ :D 36:?8 C6A@CE65[” qF492?2? D2:5]k^Am kAmp?J@?6 H:E9 :?7@C>2E:@? @? :==682= 5CF8 24E:G:EJ E2<:?8 A=246 :? E96:C 2C62 42? 42== E96 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ $96C:77’D ~77:46 2E gag\eda\aabd[ 6IE] `acf] !6@A=6 42? 2=D@ DF3>:E 2? 2?@?J>@FD E:A E9C@F89 E96 |r$~ 2AA]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story This McDowell County Sheriff's Office team was recognized for an operation that ended in 32 drug arrests The Community Impact Team focuses on proactive law enforcement by identifying crime trends and targeting problem areas throughout McDowell County. Watch Now: Related Video Trump puts U.S. power on display for UFC Freedom 250 How do fans feel about the White House hosting UFC Freedom 250? How do fans feel about the White House hosting UFC Freedom 250? Trump says Israeli attacks on Beirut unjustified, puts Iran deal at risk Trump says Israeli attacks on Beirut unjustified, puts Iran deal at risk Deadly Israeli strike hits Beirut Deadly Israeli strike hits Beirut Recommended for you
Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
This McDowell County Sheriff's Office team was recognized for an operation that ended in 32 drug arrests The Community Impact Team focuses on proactive law enforcement by identifying crime trends and targeting problem areas throughout McDowell County.
