9:39 am Trespassing call results in four arrests
The Thursday report of a trespassing vehicle in Watauga led to the arrests of at least four men on various charges.
Deputy Larry Vaughn of the Carter County Sheriff’s Department said he was dispatched after 8 a.m. to Wade Bulla Road in Watauga in reference to a vehicle that was on the property without permission.
The deputy was told by the property owner that the occupants of a vehicle had cut his fence in order to pass through. Vaughn was able to follow the vehicle’s tracks on foot and found the red Jeep Grand Cherokee, stuck on an old logging trail near Cripple Creek Loop.
The vehicle’s owner, Bartholomew Aaron Dipietro, 32, of 31389 Hillman Highway, Glade Spring, Va., said he and Richard S. Norris, 40, of 459 Rockingham Road, Johnson City, were in the vehicle. Norris had apparently jumped out of the vehicle farther down the road and left the property on foot. Dipietro then tried to find his way off the property and got stuck on the trail.
Dipietro told Vaughn he was not driving the vehicle when the damage was caused to the fence, but he would take responsibility for the damage.
After receiving consent to search the vehicle, officers said they found various drug paraphernalia and a bottle containing 49 Schedule IV pills. Dipietro was then placed under arrest and upon a search of his person, officers found a cell phone and one set of digital scales.
Investigators said several calls and texts, which they believed were drug related, were made to the cell phone they took from Dipietro. One of the calls was allegedly from Chris Allen McMahan, 26, of 2633 Shawnee Ave., Big Stone Gap, Va.
The officers then set up a deal with McMahan to meet at the Food City parking lot on Broad Street in Elizabethton. At 1:30 p.m., McMahan showed up at the location, with three $20 bills, which officers said was to be used to purchase an illegal controlled substance.
McMahan was arrested and charged with criminal attempt to possess methamphetamine.
Officers located Norris, the man who allegedly fled in Watauga, in the McDonald’s parking lot in Elizabethton. He was arrested on outstanding warrants from Washington County. Officers also said they found less than five grams of marijuana in his wallet.
As a result of the investigation, Norris and Dipietro were charged with possession of Schedule IV drugs for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a legend drug. Norris was also charged with possession of Schedule VI drugs. Dipietro was also charged with criminal trespassing and vandalism.
A fourth individual, Jonathon Thomas Rush, 42, of 163 Free Hill Road, Gray, was also arrested and charged with driving on a revoked license (second offense). Rush was allegedly driving the vehicle which Norris was occupying in the McDonald’s parking lot.
All four individuals were given court dates on March 12. Vehicles involved in the case were towed by the Sheriff’s Department.
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