MORGANTON - Police in Morganton say they nabbed a man with 300+ video tapes after he was spotted filming children in Morganton while pretending to be a news reporter.

According to police, officers were called out on Saturday when a witness said 51-year-old John David Warlick, of Lincolnton, seemed to be focusing on children while video taping in downtown Morganton. 

The witness, who wished to remain nameless, said Warlick was wearing an obviously altered hat identifying himself as a news reporter. She told officers that she didn't believe the hat was real and contacted police.

DENVER - A Charlotte man was charged with stealing nearly $1,500 in cigarettes after a girl he asked out on a date turned him in, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said.

Walter Mavin Truesdale, 42, of the 7400 block of Honey Flower Place in Charlotte was charged with one count of felony larceny for stealing from The Murphy Express at 7120 Highway 73 in Denver.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Detective Mark Stamey said that on July 31, an unknown suspect entered the supply room at the rear of the Murphy Express and stole 33 cartons of Newport cigarettes valued at $1,494.90.