GOP Official Accused of Drugging Granddaughters’ Dairy Queen

A Republican election official in North Carolina is facing explosive allegations after police say he tried to drug his two teenage granddaughters by slipping crushed cocaine and MDMA into their Dairy Queen Blizzards.

James Edwin Yokeley Jr., 66, was arrested on August 26 after Wilmington police reviewed surveillance video allegedly showing him placing “hard objects” into the milkshakes of his 15- and 16-year-old granddaughters.

“This is one of the most disturbing cases we’ve seen involving someone in a position of public trust,” Wilmington Police spokesperson Lt. Darren Mills told reporters. “The victims were lucky. They noticed something was wrong before taking a sip.”

According to investigators, Yokeley flagged down police officers at a gas station on August 8, claiming his granddaughters had discovered strange “objects” in their Blizzards. But when detectives pulled surveillance footage, it reportedly showed Yokeley himself crushing up pills and slipping them into the drinks.

Testing confirmed the substances contained both cocaine and MDMA. The pills have been sent to the state crime lab for further analysis.

Neither teenager consumed the tainted milkshakes, authorities said.

The case has rattled North Carolina politics and sparked calls for deeper vetting of election officials under President Donald Trump’s administration. Yokeley had been appointed just two months ago by State Auditor Dave Boliek, a Trump ally, to chair the Surry County Board of Elections.

Yokeley submitted his resignation Thursday, insisting he was “falsely accused.”

“I remain prayerfully confident that I will be exonerated of all accusations levied against me,” he wrote in his resignation letter, adding that he had been “honored to serve a board guided by fairness, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to the Constitutional Republic process.”

Critics, however, argue the case underscores systemic problems. “This is what happens when political loyalty trumps basic background checks,” said Charlotte-based political analyst Dr. Karen McMillan. “Trump-aligned officials are rushing appointments without oversight — and voters are paying the price.”

The Wilmington Police Department called the case “deeply troubling” in a statement on Facebook, assuring the public that the investigation remains ongoing.

Local residents expressed outrage. “You can’t trust anyone anymore — especially not the people who are supposed to protect democracy,” said Wilmington mother Jessica Harper, whose own children frequent the Dairy Queen where the tainted Blizzards were purchased.

The North Carolina Democratic Party also weighed in, demanding “accountability and transparency” from the state GOP. “This isn’t just about one man,” a spokesperson said. “It’s about the culture of impunity that’s been allowed to fester under Trump’s watch.”

Yokeley was booked into the New Hanover County Detention Center on a $100,000 secured bond and faces multiple charges, including felony child abuse, possession of a controlled substance, and contaminating food or drink.

Court records show his first hearing is scheduled for early September.

The Surry County Board of Elections said in a statement that it is “gathering information” and will “support local authorities during this investigation.”

Meanwhile, Wilmington residents remain shaken. “This isn’t just a crime,” said Harper. “It’s a betrayal — by a grandfather, by an official, by someone the system trusted.”