SALISBURY — Two Rowan County detectives have been indicted on felony larceny charges stemming from allegations that they took evidence from a case last year. The pair is also charged with obstruction of justice.
Christopher Michael Greer and Jeremy Dwayne Thomason were formally indicted by a grand jury on Monday for the above charges.
Greer turned himself into the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday and received a $5,000 unsecured bond. Thomason has reportedly agreed to turn himself in, however, he has not done so as of this writing.
Sheriff Travis Allen indicated in a Tuesday interview that Greer and Thomason were implicated in the impropriety in March of 2025 but that the offenses took place in February. He subsequently initiated an internal investigation.
“What this is related to, it was not evidence in the evidence room,” Allen said. “It related to a stolen property case where we had discovered a large amount of tools that had been stolen from all over several countries.”
Allen described the tools as hand tools used in construction and said that the detectives’ direct supervisor brought the issue to his office in March. In addition to Thomason and Greer, a third deputy was included in the initial internal investigation.
“Immediately, when the lieutenant told me about it, I said I did not like it,” Allen said. “… I called the SBI before he even left my office.”
Allen submitted in writing a notice of the allegations to the State Bureau of Investigation on March 12.
“We suspended the three deputies that morning, the same morning I wrote that to the SBI,” Allen said.
It took a few days for the sheriff’s office to conduct their investigation and then Thomason and Greer were officially terminated.
“When we concluded our internal investigation, I fired them,” Allen said. “They have been gone since.”
That investigation revealed the incident to be isolated, according to the sheriff and the third deputy involved was cleared of wrongdoing.
Allen provided the formal notice he sent to the SBI.
“I have been notified this morning by Captain Earnhardt and Lieutenant Barkely of possible inappropriate actions taken by three deputies here at the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office,” that letter said. “These actions consist of inappropriate storage and control of items recovered from a stolen property case by at least three deputies in late February.
“… The date of the recovery of the property was Friday the 21st of February at 220 Ellis Loop Rd here in Rowan County.
“… I have initiated an internal investigation and request your assistance and assessment into the matter. It is my desire as Sheriff to always be transparent and to ensure that our deputies are operating legally and under policy. As Sheriff, I believe that it is important to have the NCSBI investigate this matter to show transparency and integrity on behalf of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. I as Sheriff will not tolerate inappropriate behavior in the Office.”
At some point during a ten-month period between March 12, 2025, and January 12, 2026, the case was presented to the Randolph County District Attorney’s Office who reviewed the cases and determined that both detectives would be indicted.
Allen acknowledged on Tuesday that he was frustrated by the length of time that passed from reporting it until the grand jury convened but added that he was not trying to be critical of the SBI and understands the bureau has a heavy workload.
“When you send something in March,” Allen said. “I’m calling them in October asking where the investigation was at. It took us three days. There were only three people to talk to.”
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
