Sheriff Darren Campbell stated that on May 20th, 2016 Sgt. C T Smith of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office was dispatch to 243 Woodstream Circle to a suspicious person going door to door wearing khaki shorts, dirty work boots, and a sweat shirt from the Charlotte Fire Department, carrying a two litter green drink bottle with the top cut off and writing with a magic marker on the bottle “ for the wounded firefighters raffle “ and telling home owners that he was collecting money for the Charlotte Fire Department Fallen Firefighters.
Deputy E A Johnson and Sgt C T Smith responded to the area where a male subject matching the description with the green bottle in hand later identified as Paul Walker Jacob Mills was walking on the street in front of 138 Woodstream Circle. Paul Walker Jacob Mills admitted that he didn’t work for the Charlotte Fire Department and had no plans of turning any of the money over to the Charlotte Fire Department. Paul Walker Jacob Mills advised deputies that his friend Charles Vernon Brooks III had come up with the idea and was collecting money in a adjoining neighborhood driving a black Ford Ranger Truck. Paul Walker Jacob Mills was arrested for Obtaining Property by False pretenses. While searching Paul Walker Jacob Mills after his arrest, Paul Walker Jacob Mills had in his front right pocket Schedule III narcotics, and a syringe to introduce narcotics into the body which he was also charged with. Sgt C T Smith attempted to locate Charles Vernon Brooks III but was unable to locate him or his Ford Ranger. Paul Walker Jacob Mills was transported to the Iredell County Detention Center where a $5000.00 dollar secured bond was set by Magistrate Chambers. Magistrate Chambers also issued an arrest warrant for Charles Vernon Brooks III for obtaining property by False Pretenses.