Early morning hours of Monday, September 4, 2017 Lake Lure Officer Allen Greene received a Stolen Vehicle Alert from Rutherford County Communications. The vehicle, a white Dodge Ram truck, had just been stolen from the Hickory Nut Falls Campground, located in Chimney Rock, in Rutherford County.
Officer Greene who was out patroling immediately noticed at 3:56am, a Burgundy Cadillac stopped at the ATM in the Town Center parking lot. Officer Greene questioned the two individuals in the vehicle who stated that they had seen the Dodge Ram truck, located off the side of the road with the driver’s door opened, just across the road from the entrance to the campground. Officer Greene then went immediately and recovered the stolen vehicle. It was at this time he sensed a connection with the occupants of the Burgundy Cadillac and radioed Corporal Carl Umphlett, who was just getting off shift and was headed home.
Corporal Umphlett located the Burgundy Cadillac driving on Highway 9 passing Ingles and pulled them over for an investigative purpose. Upon interviewing the occupants of the Cadillac, Corporal Umphlett noticed a marijuana cigarette on the console. At this time Corporal Umphlett called for back-up and waited for Officer Greene.
A Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department Deputy took over custody of the stolen vehicle and Officer Greene went enroute to the traffic stop on Highway 9. Once Officer Greene arrived, Corporal Umphlett had the occupants of the vehicle exit. At this time officers located numerous purses and wallets, drugs and a handgun and upon further investigation it is believed that the driver of the vehicle had others involved in the thefts.
Shawn Douglas Lewis, 18 years of age with a Kentucky address, was arrested for Possessing/Concealing a Weapon and Simple Possession of Drugs by Lake Lure Police Department. Additionally Mr. Lewis was charged with No Operator’s License. He is in the Rutherford County Detention Center with a $9000 Bond amount.
The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the theft of the vehicle that was originally reported in their county as well as the thefts of the articles located in the vehicle.
