57-year-old Zachary Aaron Roach of Butler Hill Road in Morganton was arrested by Burke County Sheriff’s Officers. He’s charged with felony counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, first-degree burglary, and possession of cocaine. Roach is also charged with misdemeanor counts of communicating threats and cruelty to animals.

On March 23, 2023, Burke County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home invasion off Settlemyre Road, Morganton. An occupant of the residence called and reported that Zachary Roach (AKA Cowboy) had broken into and/or entered the residence without permission. According to witnesses on the scene, when Roach breached the residence, he shot the homeowner’s dog several times, killing it, and threatened the occupants of the property.

In the early morning hours of March 29, Roach was apprehended during a traffic stop. During the stop, deputies found cocaine in Roach’s possession. Roach was arrested and taken before the Magistrate’s Office and served with the outstanding warrants, and additionally charged with Simple Possession of Schedule II (cocaine).  He was placed in the Burke County Jail under a $23,500 Bond.  Roach bonded out of jail the following morning.

Shortly after Roach made bond, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation/Narcotics Division conducted another traffic stop on Roach and found a pistol holster in the vehicle. As the traffic stop was being conducted, deputies and investigators served a search warrant on Roach’s residence on Butler Hill Road in Morganton.

During the execution of the search warrant, a total of 10 firearms were seized. One of the firearms was the pistol that was apparently described by witnesses as the firearm that Roach used in the burglary. He also periodically carries this pistol with him. Roach was arrested a second time and charged with possession of a firearm by felon. He was placed in the Burke County Jail under a $50,000 secured bond. A District Court date is scheduled for April 20.

[Information and photo of suspect courtesy of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office]