Officer's new shift leads to big arrests

OFFICER'S NEW SHIFT LEADS TO BIG ARRESTS

Photos contributed/TCS
Fraudulant check suspects Krystal Marie Herndon (left) and Mary Christopher. Both were arrested by patrol officer Billy Burgin, who has made three high-profile arrests in the last few weeks.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- For patrol officer Billy Burgin, a recent switch from the night shift to day shift is paying off big for both himself and the Lincolnton Police Department. And for a couple of women charged with obtaining property by false pretenses, it means a trip to jail.

First, Burgin arrested an employee of Lincoln County Schools just minutes after she left Kings Office Supply in downtown Lincolnton. Burgin pulled over a vehicle driven by 24-year-old Krystal Marie Herndon of Georgetown Road, Lincolnton.

Photo by The Carolina Scoop's Elizabeth Mayhew
Lincolnton Police officer Billy Burgin pauses for a moment to smile while at the department the other day.

According to chief Dean Abernathy, Herndon used a fraudulant check to pay for merchandise.

Burgin took her into custody with the assistance of Sgt. J. Caudle and Det. Chuck McGinley charged her with one felony obtaining property by false pretenses. Herndon was taken to jail at the Kingsway Convenience Store under a $5,000 secured bond.

Burgin's quick action stopped another fraudulant check from being passed at a local grocery store on Thursday.

Mary Christopher, 50, of County Line Trail, Lincolnton, was arrested at the Bi-Lo on Highway 27 west around 3 p.m.

"She was arrested at the store while trying to pass a stolen check," said Abernathy, adding the checks were reportedly stolen from Christopher's husband.

Photo by The Carolina Scoop's Elizabeth Mayhew
Burgin is one of many team players at Lincolnton Police, even working the records desk when needed.

Burgin charged Christopher with five felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense and one felony count of attempting to obtain property by false pretense. She was taken to the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond.

The two arrests this week marks three big arrests for Burgin.

On Oct. 6, Burgin was in the vicinity of Maiden Highway and Colonial Village Drive, when he noticed Tod-Jaa Dazy-Juan Tilley, 23, of Mull Road pass a stopped school bus. Burgin pulled Tilley over, stopping him around 1:45 p.m.

According to the arrest report on file at Lincolnton Police, Tilly was uncooperative when it came to a vehicle search. The suspect was even armed with a knife.

Upon searching the vehicle, Burgin found a case full of marijauna in baggies. Burgin also found scales with a baggie of marijauna on it.

Tilley was taken to jail under a $4,000 secured bond.

"He's on the ball," said Chief Abernathy.