WPD provides update on man allegedly drugging minors’ ice cream
WLMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police released new details Friday about an incident that occurred earlier this month, in which a man allegedly tried to drug two minors.
Police now say it occurred on August 3—not August 8.
They also clarified that only one of the two minors was related to 66-year-old James Yokely. Yokely was with his 16-year-old step granddaughter and her 15-year-old friend.
Police say that Sunday, the three visited the Dairy Queen on Oleander Drive.
Later, while Yokely’s step granddaughter was driving, she and her friend noticed a blue pill in their Blizzard.
The three pulled into a Sheetz gas station at the corner of Shipyard and Independence Boulevards—where they flagged down a paramedic, who got an officer.
“We think that decision was probably made by the juveniles to go to the gas station since they saw an ambulance, or a paramedic vehicle there,” Lieutenant Greg Willett with the Wilmington Police Department said.
Footage from that Dairy Queen allegedly shows Yokely putting the pills into the teen’s ice cream—footage Willett says will remain under wraps for now.
“We’re not going to release it,” he said. “The case has to go to court, and once it goes to court and is presented as evidence, and the case is adjudicated, there’s a potential then. But no, we won’t be releasing it prior.”
In the initial warrant, Police said the pills contained MDMA mixed with cocaine, but it will take time for the state lab to confirm that finding.
“The street field test basically are designed to test for compounds that make up illegal narcotics or narcotics in general,” Willett explained. “So, it indicates the chemical compounds that are there. So, there’s no question we’re taking about drugs here, it’s just getting to the point where it’s isolated in identifying exactly what drugs.”
On Tuesday, Yokely turned himself in at WPD headquarters and posted his $100,000 bond.
Police say both teens are now in safe custody and did not ingest the narcotics.
Yokely was also on the Surry County Board of Elections.
In his resignation letter, he maintained his innocence and says he’s being falsely accused.
Yokely will have his next court appearance on September 11 at 9 a.m.
