NC - NC county elections chair accused of putting cocaine, MDMA in granddaughters' ice cream.

[sds71]

WPD says medical personnel checked the two juveniles and determined that they had not ingested any of the substances. The two pills were collected, and preliminary field tests conducted indicated that the pills were illegal narcotics, including MDMA and cocaine. Those pills have since been sent to a state lab for further testing.

WPD detectives were also notified and opened an investigation. During the investigation, it was determined by video footage that Yokeley had been the one who placed the two pills into both victims’ ice cream.

Man arrested for allegedly drugging granddaughters’ Dairy Queen | Port City Daily

WILMINGTON — A 66-year-old man has been charged with contaminating ice cream with a controlled substance earlier this month. James Edwin Yokeley Jr. has been charged with contamination and felony…

portcitydaily.com

 

[appleatcha]

WPD says medical personnel checked the two juveniles and determined that they had not ingested any of the substances. The two pills were collected, and preliminary field tests conducted indicated that the pills were illegal narcotics, including MDMA and cocaine. Those pills have since been sent to a state lab for further testing.

WPD detectives were also notified and opened an investigation. During the investigation, it was determined by video footage that Yokeley had been the one who placed the two pills into both victims’ ice cream.

Man arrested for allegedly drugging granddaughters’ Dairy Queen | Port City Daily

WILMINGTON — A 66-year-old man has been charged with contaminating ice cream with a controlled substance earlier this month. James Edwin Yokeley Jr. has been charged with contamination and felony…

portcitydaily.com

From your link:

"On August 8, 2025, while on patrol, a Wilmington police officer was flagged down by Yokeley at the Sheetz gas station at 2517 Shipyard Blvd. According to the Wilmington Police Department, Yokeley informed the officer that his two juvenile granddaughters had found two pills in the ice cream they had recently purchased at the Dairy Queen located on Oleander Drive."

"During the investigation, it was determined by video footage that Yokeley had been the one who placed the two pills into both victims’ ice cream."

I guess it's a good thing when criminals also happen to be extraordinarily stupid... MOO.

 

[LadyL]

From your link:

"On August 8, 2025, while on patrol, a Wilmington police officer was flagged down by Yokeley at the Sheetz gas station at 2517 Shipyard Blvd. According to the Wilmington Police Department, Yokeley informed the officer that his two juvenile granddaughters had found two pills in the ice cream they had recently purchased at the Dairy Queen located on Oleander Drive."

"During the investigation, it was determined by video footage that Yokeley had been the one who placed the two pills into both victims’ ice cream."

I guess it's a good thing when criminals also happen to be extraordinarily stupid... MOO.

what a strange man
was he hoping to sue the ice cream store?
otherwise, what would be the motive?
I hope he is barred from any contact with his granddaughters ever again

 

[appleatcha]

what a strange man
was he hoping to sue the ice cream store?
otherwise, what would be the motive?
I hope he is barred from any contact with his granddaughters ever again

I can only think of 2 possible scenarios:

1. He staged this to make the ice cream store look bad/possibly sue.
2. He was hoping to drug his granddaughters and didn't expect them to find the pills. When they did, he tried to save face by pretending to be as shocked as they were, so he flagged down a police officer.

Both scenarios are... bizarre. I'm leaning towards #2.

MOO

 

[Inthedetails]

I can only think of 2 possible scenarios:

1. He staged this to make the ice cream store look bad/possibly sue.
2. He was hoping to drug his granddaughters and didn't expect them to find the pills. When they did, he tried to save face by pretending to be as shocked as they were, so he flagged down a police officer.

Both scenarios are... bizarre. I'm leaning towards #2.

MOO

I think scenario #1 is more likely, that he wanted to point fingers at the ice cream shop employees for some reason. Why, I don't know. And it was a really stupid plan and despicable to involve children in the hoax.

Yokeley, who was appointed in June by State Auditor Dave Boliek as chair of Surry County Board of Elections, was being held at the New Hanover County Detention Center with a $100,000 secured bond, which he posted.

Man arrested for allegedly drugging granddaughters’ Dairy Queen | Port City Daily

WILMINGTON — A 66-year-old man has been charged with contaminating ice cream with a controlled substance earlier this month. James Edwin Yokeley Jr. has been charged with contamination and felony…

portcitydaily.com

 

[Inthedetails]

Where did grandpa get those pills?!

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

Surry County Board of Elections​

14h ·
Statement Concerning Surry County Board of Elections Chairman
The State Board of Elections and Surry County Board of Elections are aware of the charges against Mr. Yokeley, the chair of the Surry County Board of Elections. We will continue to collect information about the situation and will provide support to the Surry County board, as needed, to ensure it is able to continue serving the county’s voters.

https://www.facebook.com/SurryCountyBoardofElections/posts/1195633462606661

 

[Inthedetails]

The frozen treats were identified by WECT as Dairy Queen Blizzards, an extra thick type of shake loaded with extras....

Yokeley was arrested and charged with “contaminating food or drink with a controlled substance and felony child abuse,” officials said. Bond was set at $100,000.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article311883090.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Inthedetails]

The two pills were collected, and preliminary field tests conducted indicated that the pills were illegal narcotics, including MDMA and cocaine. Those pills have since been sent to a state lab for further testing.

snipped

In case anyone else doesn't know what MDMA is, it's ectasy. Grandpa had pills with ectasy and cocaine. Why?!? How?

bbm

Ecstasy (3, 4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine, or MDMA) is a drug that is illegally made.

Ecstasy is a stimulant drug that can cause hallucinations. It is known as a designer drug because it was created for the purpose of making someone feel high. The drug is popular with teens and young adults who go to clubs, concerts, or "rave" parties.

Users think the drug will make them feel good and keep them going for days without rest. But people who use Ecstasy don't realize how dangerous this drug is.

Ecstasy has become one of the most common illegal drugs sold on the streets. In the last few years, Ecstasy has sent many people to emergency rooms because of its dangerous side effects.

What Is MDMA (Ecstasy)? (for Parents) - Barbara Bush Children's Hospital

Ecstasy is a dangerous illegal drug that can cause hallucinations and even death.

kidshealth.org

 

[tlcya]

what in the actual???

What was this man's end game?

 

[Fraize]

I can only think of 2 possible scenarios:

1. He staged this to make the ice cream store look bad/possibly sue.
2. He was hoping to drug his granddaughters and didn't expect them to find the pills. When they did, he tried to save face by pretending to be as shocked as they were, so he flagged down a police officer.

Both scenarios are... bizarre. I'm leaning towards #2.

MOO

Without accusing anybody of anything, MDMA, especially when laced with a strong stimulant like cocaine, can make the person taking it experience a physical high as well as a STRONG lowering of inhibitions. It is often taken at parties and can result in sexual behavior.

 

[tlcya]

I can only think of 2 possible scenarios:

1. He staged this to make the ice cream store look bad/possibly sue.
2. He was hoping to drug his granddaughters and didn't expect them to find the pills. When they did, he tried to save face by pretending to be as shocked as they were, so he flagged down a police officer.

Both scenarios are... bizarre. I'm leaning towards #2.

MOO

Watch, he will have some cockamamie excuse about how he was just teaching the girls a lesson about stranger danger and mickey finns. He will say he planned to discover the drugs, be a hero, and teach the granddaughters the dangers of spiking.

 

[Inthedetails]

Without accusing anybody of anything, MDMA, especially when laced with a strong stimulant like cocaine, can make the person taking it experience a physical high as well as a STRONG lowering of inhibitions. It is often taken at parties and can result in sexual behavior.

That is terrifying and certainly a possibility.

But if the granddaughters discovered the pills, the grandfather didn't have to alert police. He could've just thrown everything away and gone somewhere else for ice cream. He purposely called attention to the pills, and that's why I think he was targeting the DQ employees for some unknown reason.

I still want to know where Pops got the pills.

jmopinion

 

[charminglane]

That is terrifying and certainly a possibility.

But if the granddaughters discovered the pills, the grandfather didn't have to alert police. He could've just thrown everything away and gone somewhere else for ice cream. He purposely called attention to the pills, and that's why I think he was targeting the DQ employees for some unknown reason.

I still want to know where Pops got the pills.

jmopinion

Is the owner of DQ someone who will run against him?
Was he turned down for a franchise?
Is there an employee there that was his target to blame them? Or to hurt the employee's family/parent?
Is he a pedo?

 

[Inthedetails]

No information was available regarding the age of his granddaughters, why Yokeley was in Wilmington at the time of the alleged offenses, nor where he may have gotten the drugs. The arrest report did say his granddaughters were in his care at the time of the incident.

Yokeley, chair of Surry County Elections Board, arrested on child abuse, drug possession charges

The chairman of the Surry County Board of Elections has been arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including felony child abuse, in the city of Wilmington.

www.mtairynews.com

 

[Inthedetails]

The Surry County Board of Elections Chairman has resigned after he was accused of drugging Dairy Queen Blizzards that were given to two juveniles.

It comes as the North Carolina State Auditor called for his resignation on Thursday.

Surry Co. Board of Elections Chairman accused of drugging Dairy Queen blizzards resigns

The North Carolina State Auditor is calling for the resignation of a Surry County Board of Elections Chairman accused of drugging Dairy Queen Blizzards that were given to two juveniles.

www.wxii12.com

 

[LadyL]

Where did grandpa get those pills?!

jmo

and one of each kind
it's really odd

 

[wendybtn]

My first thought was he must be hard up for cash. But possibly there is a more nefarious motive.

 

[airportwoman]

I can only think of 2 possible scenarios:

1. He staged this to make the ice cream store look bad/possibly sue.
2. He was hoping to drug his granddaughters and didn't expect them to find the pills. When they did, he tried to save face by pretending to be as shocked as they were, so he flagged down a police officer.

Both scenarios are... bizarre. I'm leaning towards #2.

MOO

I have a feeling that it was a little of both. Does anyone know how old the children are?

p.s. Bet he's done this before.

 

[sunspun]

I didn't know cocaine came in pill form.