A Gastonia woman wanted in connection with a violent assault charge is now in custody after a coordinated arrest involving local officers and federal marshals, according to police. The Gastonia Police Department identified the suspect as 39-year-old Sandra McElhaney and said members of the U.S. Marshals Service’s Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force took part in Wednesday’s arrest. The department listed the charge as “assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.”
In a Facebook update, the Gastonia Police Department said McElhaney was arrested Wednesday with help from federal partners. The post named McElhaney and spelled out the charge, but it stopped short of offering extra details such as bond information or the facility where she is being held.
The Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, based in Charlotte and led by the U.S. Marshals, routinely teams up with local agencies to track down wanted suspects across North and South Carolina. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, the task force works with dozens of law enforcement partners and has carried out thousands of apprehensions since it was created.
Charges and legal context
Gastonia police described the alleged offense using the formal statute language “assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.” Under North Carolina law, that charge falls under G.S. 14-32, which outlines felony levels and potential penalties tied to the seriousness of the harm and the alleged intent to kill. Prosecutors in Gaston County will decide how to formally file the case and what to recommend on bond when McElhaney makes her first court appearance.
Next steps
Key details on the case should become public through court dockets and official law enforcement releases, including the formal list of charges and upcoming court dates. Public records will show when McElhaney is scheduled to appear before a judge. We will be watching filings in Gaston County and any additional statements from local authorities as the case moves ahead.
