The town of Fallston has six miles of paved sidewalks. North-2 miles, South 1 mile, East 1.5 miles and West 1.5 miles. Robert A has walked, as of June 7, 2022, a total of 564 miles in 2022 out of a goal of 1,000 miles for the calendar year. Robert A is ahead of schedule. Robert A sometimes walks in the early morning and sometimes late at night. Depending on the temperature and other weather condition. Just about everybody in Fallston, as well as travelers up and down Highways 18 and 182 have seen Robert A out walking many times. Robert A keeps no particular schedule or route on his many walks around Fallston.
June 7, 2022 was a normal day for Robert A. When he checked his incoming emails that day, he saw the Commissioner’s Meeting Notice for that very evening. So much for notice, Right? Robert A already knew that the 2022-2023 County Budget Public Hearing and approval vote would be on the meeting agenda, but wanted to see what else was included. By the time he looked over the agenda Items, the temperature outside was already too hot for a comfortable walk. So, Robert A figures he will do other stuff, go to the Commissioner’s Meeting at 6PM, then go for a walk later that night.
Robert A was the only citizen to speak during the Public Hearing on the NEW Budget. Nobody signed up to speak during Public Participation. Why are the people of Cleveland County, even Commissioners, AFRAID to speak their minds about the issues of our times??? Robert A remembers thinking. Little did Robert A know that he would soon be finding out. Finding out the HARD WAY!!
Robert A had been listening closely to the County Manager’s Budget Presentation for the second time) and even MORE CLOSELY when Commissioner Deb Hardin began asking County Manager Brian Epley hard questions about Cleveland County spending so many $Million$ on the American Legion World Series and so little for other projects. Since Robert A had, over the years, researched the ALWS County Spending and believed there was much waste and corruption. Listened to County Manager Epley’s bogus response to Commission Hardin’s questions, he got up to speak (actually was the only speaker) during the Public Hearing and told the Commissioners “I don’t believe a word of this” about the ALWS. And recommended the New Budget NOT be approved. Which was his only option. On Purpose, the only option presented was to approve the entire budget or to disapprove the entire budget. Robert A didn’t know whether his recommendation mattered to any of the Commissioners. But when the vote came, Commissioner Hardin voted NO. But the Budget was approved by a 4-1 vote. Robert A wondered what kind of retaliation Commissioner Hardin would be facing for her negative vote. Totally unknowing on what was soon to tried on HIM. An Assassination Attempt.
So, Robert A goes straight home after the Commissioner’s Meeting, fixes supper and does other stuff until after dark; waiting for the temperature outside to cool off. The he decides to do a 4 mile walk and the route necessary to put in that 4 miles. Go East for 1.5 miles, South for 1 mile and West for another 1.5.
That West route starts at the Stoplight in Fallston, goes West to Jim Cline Road, left to about midpoint of the Rose Hill Cemetery, turn around and backtrack to the starting point and home. It was on that “backtrack” that the Assassination Attempt on Robert A was made.
Robert A was the walking East on Highway 182 (Stagecoach Trail) about 100 yards West of The Fallston Baptist Church new community Center. He was East of the last house on that side of the street and there was an embankment on the South side of the sidewalk. Highway 182 has a slight curve to the South and a small downhill grade at that point. The curve turns away from that last house and the grade, together with the curve totally obscures the view of that last house. There were no houses on the other side of the street. At that time, approximately 10:10 PM, June 7, 2022 there was ZERO other traffic on that stretch of Highway 182. There was no moonlight to speak of and was between streetlights. Only about enough light for Robert A to see where the sidewalk was. Which, normally, was enough. All Robert A could hear was a motor vehicle coming up behind him-travelling West on Highway 182 but paid no immediate attention to it.
Then Robert A heard a crashing sound directly and closely behind him. Robert A quickly turned around and saw that the vehicle had jumped up on the sidewalk on one set of wheels, then the other set of wheels and was heading straight for him at a speed that clearly exceeded 35 MPH-the speed limit. Robert A could hear the engine rev up to full throttle. A not too powerful engine at that.
Robert A quickly decided to get off the sidewalk and head for the uphill embankment that was just south of the sidewalk. As Robert A moved South, the vehicle also moved South. As Robert A scrambled up the embankment, the oncoming vehicle also moved up onto the embankment. Remember this was all happening very fast. The vehicle was close and all four wheels now are on the embankment at about a 45-degree angle.
Robert A reached the top of the embankment and the vehicle whizzed on by. Just missing Robert A.
The vehicle then turned off the embankment, which was quickly becoming an embankment going downhill. A big-time downhill slide that would have captured the vehicle. The vehicle shot back across the sidewalk onto Highway 182. Slightly squealing its tires as it came back onto the Highway at an angle, speeding away around the rest of that curve and fully out of sight past the Fallston Baptist Church toward the Stoplight. There was no way of knowing what direction the vehicle took at the stoplight.
When the vehicle whizzed past Robert A, he realized he could only see the headlights as the vehicle was coming toward him. He did not know what kind of make and model, color or who was driving. It was a mid-sized or slightly smaller vehicle says Robert A. As the vehicle went by, it was too dark to identify anything except it was not a pickup truck. As the vehicle was getting away, with all the bouncing and skidding, all that could be seen was the tail lights. Not the make and model of the vehicle. Or a tag number.
Editor’s Note: Robert A has provided this Incident Report this way because he has no independent proof of anything. Copies of this report will be provided to the Sheriff and District Attorney, but honestly, what can the Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s be expected to do? Scrapes on the sidewalk, the embankment and tire marks on the curb or the street cannot reasonably be compared with every other vehicle in Fallston, Cleveland County, North Carolina or the USA. Robert A cannot identify the vehicle or the driver. No other vehicles were present or passing by at that particular time. It’s a perfect crime.
But, one thing is sure. Robert A is developing his “Suspect List.” Those that have previously threatened him and those that he has exposed tor being Rogue Republicans, Snub-licans, Luke, and other such “nick-names” and suspected corrupt people. Some of whom live in or near Fallston and Cleveland County. For sure Robert A will be re-thinking his walking routes and schedules. And other improved safety measures.
Also, Robert A running for Commissioner in 2024 thoughts have just increased significantly.
One thought is a certainty!!! Robert A is getting close to DISCOVERING SOMETHING Very corrupt and SMELLY!!!