Drug Arrest Made on Town Mountain Road

On 07/06/23 at approximately 4:25 PM Clay County Sheriff’s Office Sgt Tyler Faggard responded to a call that a man was passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in the driveway of 1124 Town Mountain Rd, Hayesville, NC. Upon his arrival, Sgt Faggard saw a green 1997 Ford 150 truck in the driveway with a man slumped over the steering wheel with the engine running.

Due to the brake lights being on, Sgt Faggard believed the vehicle to have been left in gear. In order to secure the truck Sgt Faggard reached in the truck on the passenger side, put it in park, and removed the ignition key. While securing the truck, Sgt Faggard saw two clear baggies containing pills in a cup holder. One baggy contained blue pills and the

other contained white pills.

NC Highway Patrol Trooper AJ Gordon and Clay County Sheriff’s Office Sgt Chris Moral soon arrived to assist Sgt Faggard. The driver was removed from the truck and found to have

been John Christopher Bailey, 49 years of age from Hayesville. Trooper Gordon arrested Bailey for Driving While Impaired and transported him to the Clay County Detention Center.

During a search of the truck, a green facemask was found rolled up and containing more pills. A total of 66 tablets of Alprazolam (Sch IV), 2 tablets of Hydrocodone (Sch II), and 1 tablet of Buprenorphine Hydrochloride Sublingual (Sch III for treatment for opioid dependence) were found within the truck.

Sgt Faggard charged Bailey with Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, or Deliver a Sch IV Controlled Substance; Simple Possession of a Sch IV Controlled Substance; and Simple Possession of a Sch III Controlled Substance. Bailey placed under a $20,000 bond for these drug charges.

Bailey was placed under a $10,000 relating to charges from Trooper Gordon.

*Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."