Watauga sheriff’s reports
Editor’s Note: All reports are taken directly from Watauga County Sheriff’s Office reports. All suspects or detainees listed are considered legally innocent until proven guilty within the court system.

Oct. 24
Fraud was reported at a financial institution in Boone. A suspect obtained, filled out and signed a counter check without authorization.

Damage to property was reported at a residence on Meat Camp Road in Boone. The victim reported the right side of a pick-up truck had been spray painted.

Oct. 25
Larceny and a recovered vehicle were reported on Dewitt Barnett Road in Banner Elk. The victim's vehicle was taken from the residence driveway and abandoned a short distance away on the shoulder of the road.

Larceny was reported in the parking lot of the Watauga Swim Complex. The victim reported a purse stolen from the vehicle.

Oct. 26
Larceny was reported at a parking lot on N.C. 105 South in Boone. The victim reported the exhaust pipe of a vehicle was cut and the catalytic converters stolen.

Breaking and entering and larceny were reported at a residence on Rush Branch Road in Sugar Grove. A suspect obtaining a key to the residence from the landlord and removed a computer and accessories.

Larceny was reported at the intersection of Winklers Creek and Leisure Acres Lane. The painted “Leisure Acres” sign was stolen.

Andrew Ruszkowski, 60, of 384 Dancy Lane, Vilas, was served with an order for arrest for a release order violation. He was scheduled to appear in district court on Nov. 7.

Oct. 27
A vehicle was reported stolen from a residence on Rush Branch Road in Sugar Grove. A 1996 red Jeep Cherokee was taken from the driveway.

Damage to property was reported on Charlie Thompson Road in Boone. A suspect spray painted profanity on the victim's driveway.

Damage to property was reported on Old Slabtown Road in Zionville. The victim reported running over nails in the road.

Breaking and entering was reported on Dollseye Trail in Blowing Rock. The door of the residence was forced open.

Communication of threats was reported by a resident of Cranberry Creek Lane in Zionville.

Cara Hope Gaultney, 23, of 1066 Linville Creek Road Apt. 2, Vilas, was arrested on-view for aiding and abetting a driving while impaired. She is scheduled to appear in district court on Nov. 13.

Marc Adrian Martinez, 27, of 1066 Linville Creek Road Apt. 2, Vilas, was arrested on-view for driving while impaired. He was placed in the Watauga County Detention Center and is scheduled to apepar in district court on Nov. 13 in lieu of an unsecured $300 bond.

Christopher Leroy Wood, 37, of 187 Clyde Townsend Road, Boone, was served with a warrant for arrest for first degree trespassing. He is scheduled to appear in district court on Dec. 6 in lieu of a written promise bond.

Oct. 28
Harassing phone calls and communication of threats was reported by a resident of Hicks Road in Sugar Grove.

Assault and damage to property was reported at a residence on Hodges Gap Road. The victim reported a suspect punched out the windshield of a 2000 Jeep Wrangler.

Damage to property was reported at a residence on Cranberry Creek Lane in Zionville. The victim reported a mirror was broken off a vehicle and vinyl siding on the home was damaged.

Assault with a deadly weapon was reported at a residence on Clyde Williams Road in Boone. The victim suffered severe lacerations from an assault with a knife. Alcohol was involved.

Oct. 29
Trespassing, littering and harassment were reported by a business owner on U.S. 321 South in Blowing Rock. The victim reported a person, heavily intoxicated, comes onto the property, harasses the tenants above the business, and throws trash on the property.

Communication of threats and harassing phone calls were reported by a nonprofit organization on Leigh Lane in Boone. A suspect calls the organization, leaving vulgar and threatening messages.

Larceny was reported at a business on U.S. 421 North in Vilas. A suspect drove away without paying for $90 in diesel fuel.

Damage to property was reported by a resident of Vannoy Lane in Boone. The victim reported four tires cut on a vehicle.

James Attillio Galgano, 46, of 352 Rush Branch Road, Vilas, was served with a warrant for arrest for two charges of harassing phone calls and one charge of communicating threats. He is scheduled to appear in district court on Nov. 21 in lieu of a $750 secured bond.

Paul Alton Olander, 34, of 150-A Margo Lane, Boone, was served with a warrant for arrest for misdemeanor stalking. He was placed in the Watauga County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in district court on Nov. 21 in lieu of a $750 secured bond.

Damage to property was reported at a business on George Wilson Road in Boone. A drink machine was pushed over.

Allegations of larceny and forgery by a resident of Georges Gap Road in Vilas were reported. The victim reported checks were stolen and forged for cash.

Oct. 30
Larceny was reported at a residence on Willowdale Church Road in Vilas. A suspect cut a chain on a work truck and removed tools with a total value of $2,050.

Larceny was reported at a residence on Kellersville Road in Banner Elk. A suspect broke into the home and removed several prescription medications.

Damage to trees was reported at a condo complex on Old Hughes Road. A condo owner topped trees for a better view without permission.

Dennis Edward Byers, 32, of 3124 Carmel Ridge Drive, Newton, was served with a warrant for arrest for four charges of obtaining property by false pretenses, two charges of felony worthless checks, three charges of misdemeanor worthless checks and one charge of attempting to obtain property by false pretenses. He was placed in the Watauga County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in district court on Dec. 21 in lieu of a $10,000 secured bond.

Anyone with information on the above crimes is urged to call the Watauga Crimestoppers at (828) 262-4555. Watauga County Crimestoppers pays rewards for information that leads to arrests, recovery of stolen property, seizure of drugs and/or the location of wanted persons. Callers may choose to remain anonymous.

— Melanie Davis, staff writer