45-year-old Jay Dee Cooke III of McDowell High Drive in Marion was arrested Thursday (September 7) by Burke County Sheriff’s Officers. He’s charged with felony counts of larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and extortion along with two counts of misdemeanor larceny.

On Thursday, investigators with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a motor vehicle theft on Antioch Road in Morganton. Investigators spoke with the reporting party and gathered information about the vehicle and suspect. Within an hour of speaking with the reporting party, investigators found the stolen vehicle traveling on U.S. 70 in Hildebran.

Investigators then performed a traffic stop on the vehicle and identified the driver as Jay Dee Cooke III, who was subsequently taken into custody on the previously mentioned charges. The stolen vehicle was then processed and returned to the owner.

According to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Offender Public Information website, Jay Dee Cooke III has multiple convictions dating back to 1997. The convictions were in Burke, Mitchell, and Yancey county for multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. Cooke’s most recent conviction was in September of 2022 in Burke County for misdemeanor counts of assault & battery and unauthorized use of a motor conveyance.

Cooke was incarcerated in the Burke County Jail under $21,000 secured bond. He remained in jail as of earlier today (September 11). A District Court appearance was scheduled today.