Banner Elk man

arrested twice

in one week
By Melanie Davis
Melanie@mountaintimes.com

A report of trespassing yielded the arrest of a Banner Elk man for the second time in one week. Officers responded to a call on Devils Den Road in the Foscoe area on Jan. 23. The caller had reported Freddie Len Shook, 46, of 244 Devils Den Road, Banner Elk, was on the premises.

On Jan. 19, Shook had been charged with communicating threats and cruelty to animals. At the time of his arrest, he was ordered not to return to the premises on Devils Den Road. That warrant was the result of sworn citizen testimony before a magistrate. The exact details of the cruelty to animals were not available.

Upon arrival at the residence, officers were told Shook had left in a 1995 green Chevrolet truck. A BOLO, or “be on the lookout,” was issued for the vehicle.

Deputies of the Avery County Sheriff's Office located the truck near the intersection of N.C. 181 and U.S. 221 in the Linville area. The officers apprehended Shook. Members of the Watauga County Sheriff's Office transported him back to Watauga County where he was charged with violation of a court order. A $4,000 bond was set.

Upon further investigation, a search warrant was issued for the truck Shook was driving. After completion of the search, a second warrant was issued on Jan. 24, on a charge of felonious breaking and entering with the intent to commit felonious assault. A $5,000 secured bond was set.

Capt. Dee Dee Rominger said clothing found in the vehicle lead to the second charge.

Shook is scheduled to appear in District Court on Feb. 21 on all charges.

Shook has several outstanding charges in Avery County. He is scheduled to appear in Avery County District Court on Feb. 8 on charges of simple possession of both Schedule VI and IV controlled substances, felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Shook is also scheduled on Feb. 28 in reference to a driving while impaired and an open container violation.

A third Avery County District Court appearance is scheduled on March 6 on charges of possession of marijuana up to one half ounce and possession of a drug paraphernalia.

Shook was convicted of driving while impaired in 2002, and served one year and four months in the custody of the N.C. Department of Corrections in 1975 for prior drug convictions.