Fentanyl located during traffic stop

CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC – A joint operation on 05/20/2025 between the Narcotics and Patrol Divisions of Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office assist by the Narcotics Division of Clay County Sheriff’s office led to a traffic stop which resulted in four arrests and two subsequent search warrants.

On May 21, 2025 a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle operated by Carlos Dewayne Palmer on Old Tomotla Road. A second individual identified as Carl Palmer, son of Carlos was also in the vehicle. Probable cause was established during the investigation and a search was conducted on the vehicle which resulted in a trafficking amount of fentanyl being located as well as over $25,000.00 in cash belonging to Carlos. Carlos and Carl were both placed under arrest without incident.

Shortly after the vehicle stop, Clay County Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for a utility trailer within their county belonging to Carlos and upon execution, located approximately 17 grams of fentanyl and 7 grams of methamphetamine inside the trailer.

On May 22, 2025 a second search warrant was obtained by the Narcotics Division of Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for property owned by Carlos in Cherokee County. Upon execution, Elizabeth Pulaski and Maribel Estremera were present at the property. Several more grams of fentanyl were seized and both Pulaski and Estremera were arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

At the time of this incident, Carlos Palmer was already awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to manufacture and possess approximately 17 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Pulaski is also awaiting trial for previous charges of Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Trafficking Fentanyl, Possession with intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Cocaine, Possession With Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Dwelling for Controlled substances, Felony Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Simple Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. These charges stem from her arrest on March 25, 2025. Her initial bond on those charges was set at $600,000.00 secured and on April 17, 2025 a judge reduced her bond to $50,000.00 secured which she posted and was released from custody.

After Pulaski’s arrest on May 22, 2025 she was released on a $1,000.00 unsecured bond the following day after appearing before a District Court Judge.

Carl was originally confined under a $200,000.00 secured bond for the charges of two counts of Trafficking Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. After appearing before a District Court Judge on May 22, 2025 his bond was reduced to $100,000.00 secured.

Carlos was confined under a total of $225,000.00 secured bonds and is currently confined in Cherokee County Detention Center.

Estremera was given a $1,000.00 unsecured bond for the Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and was released.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Narcotics Division, Patrol Division, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work keeping our communities safe.