The following press release has been issued by Town of Murphy Police Department. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Official Press Release
Location: 209 Beal Circle, Murphy, NC 28906
Defendant #1: Mr. Isaiah Zavier Nelson
Victim #1: 17 Year Old Male Family Member (Name withheld for privacy reasons)
Victim #2: 21 Year Old Female Family Member (Name withheld for privacy reasons)
Victim #3: Mr. Breslin Drake Allen
Victim #4: Various Law Enforcement Officers from MPD
Date of Incident: April 9th, 2017
Time of Incident: 5:41 pm
Agencies Involved:
Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
Cherokee County Detention Center
Cherokee County 911 Dispatch Center
Cherokee County Emergency Management
Cherokee County EMS
Cherokee County Magistrate's Office
Cherokee Tribal Police
Murphy Police Department
At or around 5:41 pm, on April 9th, 2017, the Cherokee County 911 Dispatch Center received a call in reference to a disturbance at 209 Beal Circle. The reporting party had advised that the male, Mr. Nelson, had been swinging a sword at her and advised that if any law enforcement showed up at the residence that Mr. Nelson would shoot them. Upon the arrival of law enforcement from the Murphy Police Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, they were advised that Mr. Nelson had barricaded himself inside with other occupants of the residence.
Shortly thereafter, the occupants of the residence were released and were able to come outside. During this time, multiple attempts were made by law enforcement and Mr. Nelson's mother to come outside of the residence via mobile phone and a patrol vehicle PA System, but Mr. Nelson refused. After much persuasion, Mr. Nelson was able to put the makeshift firearm down and exit the residence as he was making various threats to the assisting law enforcement officers. Mr. Nelson was then taken into custody as he was resisting being placed in handcuffs and placed inside of the patrol vehicle.
Mr. Nelson had made various threats to officers of the Murphy Police Department while being arrested and taken into custody. Given our previous history with Mr. Nelson, we found these threats to be credible.
Cherokee Tribal Police SWAT was notified of the incident and placed on standby. They were later cancelled after the defendant was in custody.
Mr. Nelson is currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center on the following charges:
- Second Degree Kidnapping (2 Counts)
- Resisting Public Officer (2 Counts)
- Communicating Threats (3 Counts)
- Injury To Personal Property (1 Count)
- Go Armed To The Terror Of The Public (1 Count)
- Assault With A Deadly Weapon (1 Count)
Mr. Nelson was given a $40,000.00 secure bond for the listed above offenses. His first court appearance is scheduled for April 25th, 2017 at 9:00 am in the Cherokee County Courthouse.
Prior to the above listed charges, Mr. Nelson has been charged with 42 prior offenses since 2009 here in Cherokee County alone. They range from Misdemeanor Larceny, Assault On A Government Official, Possession Of Methamphetamine, Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Assault By Strangulation, Unauthorized Use Of A Motor Vehicle, Injury to Railroad Property and various Court and Probation Violations.
"I would personally like to thank the quick response from all assisting Deputies from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and the Officers of the Murphy Police Department. I would also like to thank the Cherokee County 911 Dispatch Center for their assistance in getting all the crucial information needed to the responding law enforcement officers during this stressful situation. With all of these great people, and them doing what they do, they helped bring this unfortunate event to a quick resolution."
Due to the pending nature and charges of this investigation, this is all of the information that can be shared at this time. We will keep the general public informed as the investigation continues.
Thank You,
Justin J. Jacobs
Chief of Police
Official Press Release
Location: 209 Beal Circle, Murphy, NC 28906
Defendant #1: Mr. Isaiah Zavier Nelson
Victim #1: 17 Year Old Male Family Member (Name withheld for privacy reasons)
Victim #2: 21 Year Old Female Family Member (Name withheld for privacy reasons)
Victim #3: Mr. Breslin Drake Allen
Victim #4: Various Law Enforcement Officers from MPD
Date of Incident: April 9th, 2017
Time of Incident: 5:41 pm
Agencies Involved:
Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
Cherokee County Detention Center
Cherokee County 911 Dispatch Center
Cherokee County Emergency Management
Cherokee County EMS
Cherokee County Magistrate's Office
Cherokee Tribal Police
Murphy Police Department
At or around 5:41 pm, on April 9th, 2017, the Cherokee County 911 Dispatch Center received a call in reference to a disturbance at 209 Beal Circle. The reporting party had advised that the male, Mr. Nelson, had been swinging a sword at her and advised that if any law enforcement showed up at the residence that Mr. Nelson would shoot them. Upon the arrival of law enforcement from the Murphy Police Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, they were advised that Mr. Nelson had barricaded himself inside with other occupants of the residence.
Shortly thereafter, the occupants of the residence were released and were able to come outside. During this time, multiple attempts were made by law enforcement and Mr. Nelson's mother to come outside of the residence via mobile phone and a patrol vehicle PA System, but Mr. Nelson refused. After much persuasion, Mr. Nelson was able to put the makeshift firearm down and exit the residence as he was making various threats to the assisting law enforcement officers. Mr. Nelson was then taken into custody as he was resisting being placed in handcuffs and placed inside of the patrol vehicle.
Mr. Nelson had made various threats to officers of the Murphy Police Department while being arrested and taken into custody. Given our previous history with Mr. Nelson, we found these threats to be credible.
Cherokee Tribal Police SWAT was notified of the incident and placed on standby. They were later cancelled after the defendant was in custody.
Mr. Nelson is currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center on the following charges:
- Second Degree Kidnapping (2 Counts)
- Resisting Public Officer (2 Counts)
- Communicating Threats (3 Counts)
- Injury To Personal Property (1 Count)
- Go Armed To The Terror Of The Public (1 Count)
- Assault With A Deadly Weapon (1 Count)
Mr. Nelson was given a $40,000.00 secure bond for the listed above offenses. His first court appearance is scheduled for April 25th, 2017 at 9:00 am in the Cherokee County Courthouse.
Prior to the above listed charges, Mr. Nelson has been charged with 42 prior offenses since 2009 here in Cherokee County alone. They range from Misdemeanor Larceny, Assault On A Government Official, Possession Of Methamphetamine, Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Assault By Strangulation, Unauthorized Use Of A Motor Vehicle, Injury to Railroad Property and various Court and Probation Violations.
"I would personally like to thank the quick response from all assisting Deputies from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and the Officers of the Murphy Police Department. I would also like to thank the Cherokee County 911 Dispatch Center for their assistance in getting all the crucial information needed to the responding law enforcement officers during this stressful situation. With all of these great people, and them doing what they do, they helped bring this unfortunate event to a quick resolution."
Due to the pending nature and charges of this investigation, this is all of the information that can be shared at this time. We will keep the general public informed as the investigation continues.
Thank You,
Justin J. Jacobs
Chief of Police
