Lincolnton vape shop owner charged with 12 felonies in ALE investigation following armed robbery
LINCOLNTON N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The manager of a Lincolnton vape shop was charged with 12 felonies tied to underage sales after the store was the site of a shooting earlier this month.
Two men accused of armed robbery at Lincolnton vape shop, one of them hospitalized from employee who fired back
On Feb. 15, the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division and Lincolnton Police Department concluded a joint investigation involving Dave's, a tobacco and vape shop on North Aspen Street. ALE says they received complaints regarding an increased amount of vape products confiscated from underage students; Dave's is roughly 500 feet from the entrance to Lincolnton High School.
ALE special agents identified and determined Delta9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products from Dave's contained more than 0.3 % THC, making the products illegal to possess and sell.
As a result, Dave's manager Omari David Cole was handed 20 criminal charges, of which 12 were felonies.
On Feb. 6, an armed robbery led to an 'exchange of gunfire' at this same location. Two men were arrested after fleeing to a local urgent care after being injured in the shooting.
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Following the ALE investigation, Cole, 21, of Statesville, is charged with:
Two counts of Felony Deliver Marijuana
Two counts of Felony Sell Marijuana
Two counts of Felony Manufacture SCH VI Controlled Substances
Two counts of Felony Manufacture/Sell/Deliver/Possess Controlled Substances within 1,000 feet of a school
Two counts of Felony Conspiracy to Sell Marijuana
Two counts of Felony Conspiracy to Deliver SCH VI Controlled Substances
Two counts of Possess Marijuana Paraphernalia
Two counts of Dangerous Drugs
Two counts of Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling/Place Controlled Substances
Two counts of Simple possession of Marijuana
This is an on-going investigation. ALE is the lead enforcement agency for the state's alcoholic beverage control, gambling, lottery and tobacco laws.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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