08/31/2026
On Friday 8/28/2026 Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), with the assistance of Sylva Police Department (SPD), responded to a call for service in the Webster community. The caller requested Patrol Deputies respond to their residence due to an individual wielding a hatchet, using said hatchet to cause massive amounts of property damage. The caller stated the individual had also entered the house during his reign of terror.
Deputies responded emergency traffic but when they arrived on scene the suspect, identified by the caller as Joseph Cain Luker, had fled the scene. Unsure if the suspect would return, Deputies remained on scene and determined swift action was needed to prevent imminent danger to life or serious damage to property. Deputies on scene requested the assistance of a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS), or more commonly referred to as a “drone”.
Once on scene the drone was able to locate the suspect lying down in a wooded area in less than 30 minutes. A ground team composed of JCSO Deputies and SPD Officers then went on a short manhunt through creeks, over barbed wire, and through thick underbrush that was still wet from the evenings rain. Ground teams were walked in to the suspect’s position, who then fled further into the woods, but was still being tracked by the drone. This allowed the ground team to simply follow his trail. The suspect walked out of the woods and turned himself in to Deputies tired and wet.
The Sheriff’s Office maintains a drone program by licensing pilots and registering drones through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These drones are only operated within the legal constraints set by the FAA, and North Carolina General Statutes. They fly numerous missions including but not limited to search and rescue, locating fleeing suspects, scene surveillance, and ex*****on of search warrants. They are an invaluable tool to aid Deputies and search parties on the ground and add another layer of safety by being able to put eyes on an individual before anyone is put in harm’s way.
Joseph Cain Luker was arrested on an outstanding warrant for arrest for second degree trespass, and also charged with injury to personal property (totaling in the thousands of dollars) and five counts of resisting public officer.
This incident represents Law Enforcement’s dedication to the community. Instead of calling it quits after the suspect left the scene, Deputies and Officers remained on scene to ensure security of life and property. They then operated advanced technologies maintained by the Sheriff’s Office to locate, pursue, and bring the perpetrator to justice, not pausing to think of the danger of chasing an armed suspect through thick woods at night. It also embodies the strong team bonds formed with other local agencies who frequently are needed in such incidents.
