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LINCOLNTON, N.C. - Lincoln County Sheriff's deputies arrested a West Virginia man on Friday (September 29, 2023) after receiving a tip from West Virginia on a location where the suspect was hiding.

After verifying the tip, deputies prepared to go to a residence in the 1300 block of Branton Drive, Iron Station in an attempt to locate James David Heater, 42, of Huntington, West Virginia. The tipster indicated that Mr. Heater was staying with a former cellmate from a past prison stint.  Deputies including the Drone Team were briefed a plan of action to locate Mr. Heater.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they surrounded the residence and encountered Heater underneath a vehicle in the driveway.  After verifying his identification, officers pulled him from under the vehicle and placed him in custody.

Heater was transported to the Lincoln County magistrate's office where he was charged with being a fugitive from justice.  The warrant from West Virginia lists him as an escapee.  He was placed in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a no bond hold and will have a first appearance hearing in Lincoln County District Court on October 2, 2023.

While on the property deputies recovered a motorcycle stolen out of Charlotte and two mopeds stolen from Gaston County and Lincolnton.

Investigating officers were Lt. S. Grinnell, First Sgt. A. Alvarado, Sgt. S. Dombrowski, Deputies Z., Kale, C. Medina, J. Ridgeway, Detectives J. Woodard and D. Hendrix, and Lincolnton PD K-9 Officer.

Investigation into the incident is continuing and additional charges are possible.

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