LINCOLNTON, N.C. – The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team made entry into a residence on White Street Monday and arrested a man wanted in Gaston County on felony charges.

On September 19, 2022, Sgt. R. Hoernlen responded to 921 White Street in reference to a wanted person at that location. The Sheriff’s Office had received several reports that Branon Keith Scronce, 43, of Lincolnton, NC was at that location. When officers arrived on the scene they discovered the vehicle that Scronce drives was in the driveway. Deputies approached the residence on foot and surrounded the house.

When Sgt. Hoernlen knocked on the door he could hear movement inside and dogs barking but no one would come to the door. The officer continued to knock on the door but no one would answer. A search warrant was issued and the LCSO SWAT team was activated. The SWAT team arrived on the scene on White Street and after knocking on the door numerous times and announcing loudly, “Sheriff’s Office search warrant”, the door was breached.

Scronce was taken into custody in the living room without incident. He was turned over to the Gaston County Police and taken before a Gaston County magistrate where he was served felony warrants for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, a true bill of indictment, two felony counts of failure to appear and two misdemeanor counts of failure to appear. He was placed in the Gaston County Jail under a $269,000 secured bond.