Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Deputy Sheriff Allen Dean was shot and fatally wounded, and Special Deputy Charles Watson was shot and killed in a gun battle with two moonshiners at the Culberson Bridge on the Nottely River.
A third deputy was seriously wounded, and Deputy Dean died two days later.
The suspects, thought to have been shot and seriously wounded, escaped. The men were apprehended in Texas six months later. Both were convicted of second-degree murder. One suspect was sentenced to seven years and the other to six years.
Special Deputy Sheriff Dean was survived by his wife, three daughters, and five sons.
Survivors
Special Deputy Sheriff Dean was survived by his wife, three daughters, and five sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-8B774533- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Deputy Sheriff Dean served with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Murphy community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Dean.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Sheriff Allen Dean is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Allen Dean's cause is highlighted.
How Allen Dean Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to seven years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Allen Dean is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Allen Dean was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Cherokee County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
