46-year-old Billy Lawrence Freeman of St. Marys Church Road in Morganton was arrested Tuesday (May 23) by Morganton Public Safety Officers. He’s charged with felony counts of possession of schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine), domestic violence protective order violation, and purchasing a firearm in violation of a domestic violence protective order. Freeman is also charged with misdemeanor counts of domestic violence protective order violation, assault on a female, carrying a concealed weapon, and failure to appear.

On Tuesday at 5:25 p.m. an officer responded to Morganton Public Safety fire station three off Burkemont Avenue in reference to a disturbance. The officer spoke with a Burke County EMS crew who told them that a man who was walking in the parking area of Magnolia Lane Nursing Home had jumped into their ambulance and was acting erratic. The suspect was found walking away from where the ambulance was parked. He told the officer he was just trying to get attention because cars were flying by while he was walking on Burkemont Avenue. Police learned there were warrants on file against Freeman and he was taken into custody.

During the arrest, police reportedly found one gram of methamphetamine. Freeman was brought to the Burke County Jail where he was incarcerated under $3,000 secured bond. He remained in jail as of earlier today (May 25). A District Court appearance was scheduled today in Morganton.