A North Carolina man who chairs the Surry County Board of Elections has been charged with contaminating food and felony child abuse after police say he slipped pills into his granddaughters’ Dairy Queen ice cream.
Wilmington police said officers were flagged down Aug. 8 at a Sheetz gas station by 66-year-old James Yokeley. Investigators later determined through video footage that Yokeley placed two pills into both children’s ice cream, authorities said.
Preliminary field tests indicated the pills were illegal narcotics, according to police.
Yokeley was arrested and charged with contaminating food or drink with a controlled substance and felony child abuse. He was taken to the New Hanover County Detention Center and released on a $100,000 secured bond.
WXII-TV reported that Yokeley is the chairman of the Surry County Board of Elections.
In a statement to the station, the North Carolina State Board of Elections said it was aware of the charges.
“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,” the statement said. “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.”
