Clay County Sheriff's Office

08/25/2026

On 08/22/26 shortly after 6:25 PM, Clay County Sgt Cory Scroggs and Clay County Officer Nate Rogers responded to the Dollar General Store at 3500 US Hwy 64 East in Hayesville. A report had been received that a woman had been sitting in her car at this location for the prior two hours and was acting abnormally. Upon the Officers’ arrival, Shannon Nicole Silvey, 46 years of age of Hayesville, was found sitting in the driver’s seat of a four-door Honda passenger car.

Silvey appeared to be asleep and after several attempts was awakened by Sgt Scroggs. Silvey said she had been awake for 48 hours and admitted to taking some prescribed medications. Silvey consented to a search of the Honda. A red eyeglasses case was found in Silvey’s purse. The purse contained a small baggy containing a crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe. Silvey was arrested and transported to the Clay County Detention Center.

At 3:11 AM on 08/23/26, Clay County Detention Officer Payton Hopkins inventoried the property of Silvey who had been incarcerated earlier the prior evening. Officer Hopkins found a prescription bottle containing numerous controlled medications that did not belong with the labeled prescription bottle. Using a pill identification database, Sgt Scroggs identified the following within this bottle: 27 (ct) Alprazolam 0.5 mg, 11 (ct) Clonazepam 1 mg, 1 (ct) Alprazolam 1 mg, ½ (ct) Acetaminophen/Oxycodone 325/10 mg.

Silvey was ultimately charged with felony Possession of Methamphetamine, felony Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Prison/Jail, and Violation of her Probation. Silvey was initially issued no bond due to already being out on pre-trial release for another charge of Possession of Methamphetamine. Silvey was eventually issued a $50,000 secured bond for her release.

08/19/2026

We currently have two positions open for the position of Deputy Sheriff and multiple positions open for Detention Officers.

08/15/2026

Found on the Hayesville Town Square this evening during a music on the square festival. Announcements were made without any response as to the owner of "Dozier". If Dozier belongs to you, call the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at 828/389-6354 and an Officer will call you.

08/13/2026

These two dogs showed up at 555 Dogwood Lane in Hayesville. If these belong to you or you know whose they belong to, they would appreciate being taken back to their home. You can call the Sheriff's Office at 828/389-6354 if you recognize them.

08/13/2026

On August 10, 2026, Clay County Investigator Steven Smith received a “CyberTip” from the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force regarding the suspected possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The CyberTip originated with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after information was submitted by Cash App concerning cryptocurrency transactions associated with a profile identified as being linked to child sexual abuse material.

Investigator Smith along with Clay County Investigator Aly Daniel began an investigation and located the individual identified in the CyberTip. This was Thomas Alan Tarr, 26 years of age from Hayesville. During the investigation, Tarr voluntarily provided detectives with access to his cellular phone. While reviewing the device in Tarr’s presence and with his consent, Investigator Smith discovered a video depicting apparent child sexual abuse material.

The cellular device was immediately seized as evidence, and Investigator Smith subsequently obtained a search warrant authorizing a forensic examination of the device. On August 11, 2026, Investigator Smith, a Cellebrite certified operator and analyst, completed a full file system extraction of the device. Investigators Smith and Daniel then conducted an examination of the extracted data.

During the forensic examination, Investigators Smith and Daniel located a substantial amount of suspected child sexual abuse material stored on the device. They determined that material had been downloaded to the device on eleven separate occasions between December 1, 2025, and August 3, 2026. They also determined that a majority of the material had been accessed through the Telegram mobile application.

Following the investigation and consultation with the District Attorney’s Office, Investigator Smith presented the findings to a Clay County Magistrate. On August 12, 2026, the Clay County Magistrate found probable cause and issued a warrant for the arrest of Thomas Tarr on eleven counts of Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. At approximately 11:45 a.m. that same day, Investigators Smith and Daniel located Tarr at his place of employment and placed him under arrest without incident.

Tarr was transported to the Clay County Detention Center, where he was brought before Magistrate Dave West and received a $150,000 secured bond. His initial court appearance was scheduled for August 21, 2026. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to investigating crimes involving the exploitation of children and working alongside local, state, and federal partners to identify individuals involved in the possession, distribution, and production of child sexual abuse material.

08/10/2026

07/28/2026

A traffic stop conducted on 07/27/26 at approximately 1:30 p.m. by Clay County Investigator J.J. Wooten and led to a drug investigation that culminated in the ex*****on of a search warrant at a residence on Cold Branch Road. As a result, four arrests were made and a quantity of suspected fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and multiple cell phones were seized.

The traffic stop involved a vehicle driven by Brady Payne from Andrews. Payne was not arrested and was not charged with any drug-related offenses. Payne was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time by giving someone a ride. He was issued a traffic citation only then sent on his way.

During the stop, passenger Daniel Scott Turner, 28 years of age from Hayesville, admitted that he had fentanyl at his residence at 176 Cold Branch Trail . This admission along with other information known to Investigator Wooten and Clay County Lt. Brandon Coker, who arrived to assist, established probable cause to seek a search warrant for the residence.

During a search of the residence, officers seized suspected fentanyl, drug-packaging materials, digital scales, miscellaneous items of paraphernalia, and multiple cellphones. The evidence seized supported several felony charges. The cell phones were believed to contain relevant evidence and will be forensically searched by Clay County Investigator Steven Smith.

As a result of this investigation, Daniel Turner; Breanna Jean Turner, 30 years of age from Hayesville; Robert Joshua Brown, 38 years of age from Murphy; and Elizabeth Katylin Trantham, 28 years of age from Andrews were arrested and transported to the Clay County Detention Center.

Daniel Turner was charged with felony Sell or Deliver Fentanyl, felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Fentanyl, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and given a $45,000 secured bond for his release. Breanna Turner was charged with felony Sell or Deliver Fentanyl, felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Fentanyl, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and held without bond. Brown was charged with felony Possession of Fentanyl and given a $15,000 secured bond for his release. Trantham was charged with felony Possession of Fentanyl, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and held without bond.

07/26/2026

This little guy was lost off of Jarrett Rd on the Downings Creek end. He also may be over toward Lawrence Smoth Road. His name is Scooter and he has been missing since 11:00 AM this morning. He's not mine but belongs to a good friend and co-worker of mine. If found let me know at 828/361-5080. Thanks.....Mark Buchanan