"DYNAMIC DUO" RACKS UP THREE
BIG ARRESTS OVER THE WEEKEND

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
The "Dynamic Duo" of Lincolnton Police Sgt. Willie Vaughn (left) and officer Tony Potts (right) are giving Lincolnton's criminals a run for their money.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- As individuals, the hard-working officers of the Lincolnton Police Department constantly strive to be a thron in the side of the criminal element. But pair two of these formidible men together and crime -- and the criminals who commit the crimes -- don't stand a chance.

Just ask Wade Anthony Rippey, Mary Watts and Christopher O'Neil Smith. They all three encountered the "Dynamic Duo" and all three ended up in the same place.

The Harven A. Crouse Detention Center.

Rookie officer Tony Potts was teamed with the veteran Vaughn, where Vaughn was training Potts on warrant service. The pairing proved nothing short of remarkable on the weekend shift.

While on routine patrol Friday, Vaughn and Potts saw Rippey walking on South Laurel Street. They pulled up next to the suspect, and Vaughn exited his vehicle.

He asked Rippey to stop and the chase was on.

"He shouted an expletive at me and started running," said Vaughn.

With Potts behind the wheel of a Lincolnton Police Department cruiser, Vaughn chased Rippey on foot north on South Laurel Street.

Vaughn said Rippey crossed four lanes of traffic and started walking south on Laurel Street.

Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
Rookie Lincolnton Police officer Tony Potts (right) and Sgt. Willie Vaughn teamed up over the weekend and gave Lincolnton's criminal element a real hard time with three big arrests.

Rippey may have thought he gave Vaughn the slip. But the man wanted on a warrant for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle didn't count on Potts being behind the wheel of a car.

The chase ended near the intersection of Laurel and Rhoads Streets in Lincolnton, and Rippey was off to jail. As of Monday night, Rippey bonded out of jail.

It’s one name that makes some officers at the Lincolnton Police Department cringe when mentioned. For now, however, Mary Watts is safe – behind bars.

Over the weekend, Potts and Vaughn arrested Mary Lou Walker Watts of Victory Grove Church Road. Watts was arrested at her residence around 7 a.m. Saturday.

Several weeks ago, Watts was charged with trying to run over the manager of The Carolina Motel with her vehicle. At the time, she was charged with second degree trespass and assault.

Watts, who was released on an unsecured bond, got into a verbal argument with Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies the same night she was released in West Lincoln.

Watts was charged with failing to appear on the second degree trespass and assault charges from the original incident.

Vaughn said when he knocked on her door and identified herself, she knew she was going to jail.

“She opened the door and said ‘I guess you’re taking me to jail,’” said Vaughn.

Watts was jailed under a $300 secured bond with a court date scheduled for Nov. 25.

With two arrests under their belt, one may think the "Dynamic Duo" would sit back and relax for a bit.

Think again.

Out on a routine patrol Sunday, Vaughn saw a wanted drug suspect near East Main Street.

Unlike the arrest of Rippey, and more like the arrest of Watts, Vaughn said this arrest "was easy."

"I saw Christopher O'Neil Smith and said 'lets get him' to Tony," said Vaughn.

Without incident, Vaughn arrested Smith on charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and the sale and delivery of cocaine.

Smith was jailed in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $35,000 secured bond and has a court date scheduled for Nov. 20.

Vaughn knew his fellow officers would make fun of him upon the suggestion of the name the "Dynamic Duo" being given to himself and officer Potts.

"I don't care," said Vaughn.

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