Rowan County residents were urged to keep their eyes open after authorities warned that a man wanted in Alabama for a sex‑offender registry violation was last known to be in Salisbury, near the 2500 block of Bringle Ferry Road in mid‑June. The man, identified as Walter Adam Willis, is wanted out of Lee County, Alabama, is subject to full extradition, and officials stressed that the public should not confront him.
The Rowan County Sheriff's Office pushed out a public alert on Facebook yesterday, asking anyone who might have seen Willis or who has information on his whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately. According to the Rowan County Sheriff's Office, members of the public should not attempt to detain Willis themselves under any circumstances.
Who is Walter Adam Willis?
Online offender records list Willis as being tied to Lee County, Alabama, with a prior conviction described as lewd or lascivious assault recorded on the Alabama sex‑offender registry. Those records show a registered address in Cusseta and describe him as a 61‑year‑old white male, about 6 feet 2 inches tall and 225 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. These details match the identification shared in the Rowan County social‑media alert, per OffenderRadar.
Why he's wanted and what the law allows
In its notice, Rowan County reported that Willis is wanted for a sex‑offender registry violation and is subject to extradition back to Lee County. Under Alabama law, a knowing failure to register can be charged as a felony and sets in motion specific procedures to find and apprehend a registrant who has absconded. Alabama Code § 15-20A-37 spells out steps sheriffs must take, including securing arrest warrants and notifying state and federal partners. When a registrant cannot be located, the statute requires notification to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Marshals Service, per Alabama Code §15-20A-37.
How to report tips
Anyone who believes they have seen Willis or has information about his location is asked to contact the Rowan County Sheriff's Office at 704-216-8700 or the county non-emergency line at 704-216-8500. Call 911 if there is an immediate threat. Lee County officials also maintain a sex‑offender roster and an online tool for submitting tips related to their jurisdiction, per the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Deputies again cautioned that members of the public should not try to apprehend Willis themselves.
The alert remains active, and as of the latest update, law enforcement has not announced an arrest linked to the post. Residents who have photos, video, or other information that could help investigators were urged to share it with authorities.
