A North Carolina Republican election official has resigned after being accused of contaminating his grandchildren’s ice cream with illegal drugs.
Authorities say James Edwin Yokeley Jr., 66, the former chairman of the Surry County Board of Elections, was arrested earlier this month following an investigation by the Wilmington Police Department.
On August 8, police discovered suspicious blue pills in Dairy Queen Blizzards purchased on Oleander Drive. Police collected the pills, and preliminary tests confirmed the substances contained MDMA and cocaine.
Detectives later reviewed security video, which they say showed Yokeley placing the pills in the ice cream himself. Officials confirmed the children were examined by medical personnel and had not ingested any of the drugs.
Yokeley was charged with contaminating food or drink with a controlled substance and felony child abuse. He was booked into the New Hanover County Detention Center on a $100,000 secured bond and has since been released.
State Auditor Dave Boliek, who appointed Republican Yokeley to the elections board in June, announced his resignation on August 28, just hours after calling for him to step down.
James Edwin Yokeley Jr., who appears to use a Facebook handle of ‘JimmyandJan Yokeley’ (given he posted regularly about the Surry County Republican Party), has posted numerous medical posts related to the CDC and vaccines.
Perhaps he came under the impression that MDMA and cocaine are more effective than vaccines?
The investigation remains ongoing, and the substances have been sent to the state lab for further testing.
