Man wanted in Asheville arrested on drugs, weapons charges in Carter County

ELIZABETHTON – A Carter County man wanted in connection with a home invasion investigation in North Carolina is now facing drug and weapons charges following the execution of search warrants at his residence. On March 9, deputies and investigators from the Carter County Sheriff's Office arrested Austin W. Salyer, 30, Nix Road, Johnson City. He was charged him with possession of methamphetamine for resale, possession of Schedule II drugs for resale, maintaining a dwelling where narcotics are sold, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, unlawful carrying/possession of a weapon, and being a fugitive from justice for a crime in another state. The charges against Salyer stem from an investigation that began on the morning of March 9, when deputies went to Salyer's residence to take him into custody after the Asheville Police Department issued a warrant for his arrest, charging him in connection with an investigation into an armed home invasion that occurred in their jurisdiction on Feb. 27. Deputies arrested Salyer at that time and charged him with being a fugitive from justice for a crime in another state. Following Salyer's arrest, Salyer spoke with investigators from the Asheville Police Department and stated that a firearm used in the home invasion was located inside his home along with other firearms. CCSO investigators then obtained and executed search warrants for Salyer's residence. When officers searched the residence, they located numerous items of drug paraphernalia associated with the trafficking of narcotics, along with two vacuum-sealed packages of a white crystalline substance which appeared to be methamphetamine, a small brick of material consistent with fentanyl, baggies containing tablets marked "Xanax," and various other pills which were not immediately identified. Investigators also located firearms and ammunition. Following the execution of the search warrant, investigators interviewed Salyer, who stated he wished to cooperate with the investigation. During the interview, Salyer admitted to trafficking narcotics. All of the suspected drugs have been sent for laboratory testing for positive identification, and the investigation is ongoing at this time. Salyer was booked into the Carter County Detention Center following his arrest, where he remains held without bond due to the pending charges from North Carolina.