Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Deputy Daniels succumbed to wounds received two days earlier after being dragged and thrown from a car while investigating possible transportation of illegal moonshine near the Plumtree community. Chief Deputy Daniels, who was not in uniform at the time, noticed the speeding vehicle and, because he had two prisoners in the back of this police car, borrowed a pickup truck from a friend. He was able to catch the speeding vehicle and stop it.
As Chief Deputy Daniels stepped onto the running board of a suspicious car the driver grabbed him and held him in the window as he sped away. As the driver surpassed 50 mph he pushed Chief Deputy Daniels from the car and his body struck a tree, causing fatal injuries. The suspect was brought to trial in connection with Deputy Daniels' death but the trial ended with a deadlocked jury. The man was not retried for the incident.
At the time his death, Chief Deputy Daniels had just returned to duty after recovering from a previous incident under almost identical circumstances.
Chief Deputy Daniels had served with the agency for 9 years and was survived by his wife and children.
Survivors
Chief Deputy Daniels had served with the agency for 9 years and was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-CCC30736- 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.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Daniels gave the Avery County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Deputy Sheriff Daniels.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief Deputy Sheriff Max Daniels 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 Avery 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. Max Daniels's cause is highlighted.
How Max Daniels Compares
Offender Outcome
Case resulted in mistrial
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Max Daniels is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Max Daniels was killed by automobile.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Avery County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
