Murphy, NC Sheriff Drops out of Re-election Campaign, Resigns

The sheriff in Murphy, North Carolina has suddenly dropped out of his re-election campaign.

Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith says he is resigning affective Friday.

That is the same day he was scheduled to face two Republican challengers in a debate before the March primary.

Smith has only served for one term and it has been a rocky one.

A jailer was killed during a prison break in his early days in office.

There was another police involved shooting, plus an investigation into the Sheriff’s evidence room.

Smith posted this morning that he always believed his was a transition sheriff.

He says “At this point in my life, I believe God is calling me to focus on my family and the next chapter ahead.”