MARION, NC – A fugitive wanted by both McDowell and Burke county deputies since February 2014 was apprehended Tuesday and charged with felony possession of an explosive device, according to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.
24-year-old Mitchell Lee Gilliland was apprehended Feb. 3 after being on the run for one year – photo courtesy of McDowell County Sheriff’s Office
Officials from both NC counties, along with state probation and parole officers, had been actively searching for 24-year-old Mitchell Lee Gilliland, of Diamond Cove Road in Marion, for numerous offenses, McDowell Sheriff’s officials reported.
“When arrested, Gilliland was found in possession of an explosive device,” officials said, noting that the fugitive was also charged with “felony possession of a weapon of mass destruction.”
McDowell County Sheriff’s Detective Jason Grindstaff said Gilliland was apprehended Tuesday afternoon when the vehicle of which he was an occupant was stopped at the intersection of Old Fort-Sugar Hill and Bat Cave roads in Old Fort.
Authorities said Gilliland was wanted in McDowell County for and charged with a felony probation violation, felony possession of stolen goods, felony discharging a weapon into occupied property and misdemeanor injury to personal property.
In Burke County, the suspect was wanted for and charged with providing fictitious information to an officer, driving with a revoked license, and fictitious or altered title or registration card.
Other law enforcement agencies participating in Tuesday’s apprehension of Gilliland include officers with the Old Fort and Marion police departments.