In Gaston County, a specialized enforcement team referred to as the Gaston County Fugitive Apprehension and Suspect Tracking (FAST) Team, has marked a milestone in its mission to capture those with outstanding warrants for violent offences, drug trafficking, and persistent lawlessness since its inception in April 2023. According to a social media post from the Gaston County Police, the FAST Team's initiatives are a collaborative endeavor involving federal, state, and local enforcement bodies aimed at bolstering the security and well-being of the community.
An integral element of this operation is the symbiotic partnership between the Gaston County Police Department and numerous other agencies including the Bessemer City Police Department, Cherryville Police Department, Lowell Police Department, North Carolina Division of Community Corrections and the US Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, this partnership has yielded significant arrests over the recent quarter, maintaining the focus on community protection and crime deterrence. Among those apprehended are Clay Dean Wray, charged with assault with intent to kill after a shooting incident in Cherryville; Kurtis Buchannan for property crimes including vehicle larceny and breaking and entering; and Alberto Costa-Soto facing charges for a statutory sex offense with a minor.
Furthermore, several repeat offenders like Calvin Lee Brown, Terry Ghorley, Jeremiah Higdon, and Tavis Breeon McGill have been brought back into custody, facing a slew of charges ranging from parole violations to assault by strangulation, the FAST Team's rigor in tracking these individuals underscores an unyielding stand against cyclical criminal undertakings within Gaston County. Calvin Lee Brown's charges include probation violations and domestic criminal trespass, not to mention stalking and injury to property, demonstrating the team's resolved pursuit of those who evade the legal system while endangering the societal fabric. Terry Ghorley and Jeremiah Higdon have been noted for property damage related charges, with Ghorley also breaching parole, whereas McGill's list extends to assault on a female and cyberstalking in addition to his parole violation.
