Sheriff's Reports 8-19-24: Two suspected intoxicated drivers caught speeding in front of deputy

A deputy was looking for a reckless driver when two drivers passed him at a high rate of speed.

On Aug. 13, Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputy Justin Richardson was patrolling the area of Willis Road, looking for a reckless driver when he observed the suspected vehicle. As he was following the vehicle near the Cherokee Nation complex, two other vehicles that were traveling at a high rate of speed past him. Richardson said the vehicles were both traveling at 75 mph in a 45-mph marked zone. The deputy turned his patrol unit around and conducted a traffic stop. The driver of a red Ford Focus was identified as Dasan Duane Sands and the driver of a GMC truck was identified as Daniel Shawn Elliot Jr.. Richardson said Elliot's eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Elliot told the deputy he was speeding because he was trying to catch up to Sands, and the two were coming from the Log Store. Elliot told deputies he was on probation for assault and battery, but denied consuming alcohol. Richardson approached Sands' vehicle and could smell a strong odor of alcohol from Sands. Sands admitted to consuming alcohol and that he and Elliot had been hanging out at a friend's house earlier that night. Dispatch advised that Elliot's driver's license was revoked. Sands and Elliot were both arrested after a field sobriety test. Sands was booked for driving under the influence. Elliot was booked for driving under the influence, speeding 75 in a 45 marked zone, failure to maintain insurance, and driving without a license.

Deputy Jimmie Robertson was dispatched to West 797 Road July 25 for a violation of a protective order. A woman had an order against Joseph M. Asher and she said he was on her porch. The woman said she locked herself in a room and believed Asher crawled through a window but deputies didn't find the man inside the residence. Robertson was walking toward an RV on the property when Asher reportedly came from behind a shed, carrying a hatchet. Deputies ordered the man to drop the hatchet and Asher complied. Deputies began to walk toward Asher when he turned and fled on foot. Robertson said Asher appeared to drop a knife and a white object as he ran. Deputies chased Asher through a wooded area before they lost sight of him. They located a knife, the hatchet, and a glass pipe with a crystal-like substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Deputy Joseph Burkett located Asher and arrested him. Asher was booked for violating a protective order, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, eluding an officer, and obstructing an officer.

On Aug. 12, Deputy Carl Smith was called to Whitley Road in regard to a physical domestic incident. A man and a woman met with deputies and Smith noticed red marks on the woman's neck. She claimed she and Benjamin Berry got into an argument and it turned physical. She said the two began wrestling over Berry's phone, which she admitted to taking and refused to give it back to him. She said Berry grabbed her neck, to keep her from getting his phone back. She also admitted to biting Berry, trying to get him to release the phone. Berry told deputies the same account and Berry was transported to jail and booked.