ASHE COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — No charges will be filed in connection with a man's death following a traffic stop, according to the Ashe County Sheriff's Office and Watauga County District Attorney's Office.
On September 13, 2024, deputies monitoring traffic at Highway 16 and Highway 221 spotted a motorcycle with a piece of cardboard with "no tag" written in Sharpie.
When deputies tried to stop the motorcycle near the Corner Market gas station, officials say the rider, 48-year-old Stuart Mast, of Fleetwood, fled. The chase ended with a rolling roadblock about 3.3 miles later, just before the Sheets Bridge.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Sheriff: Motorcyclist becomes unconscious during arrest in Ashe County, diesDeputy Bledsoe, with his weapon drawn, walked up to the motorcyclist, ordering him to "get off the bike". Deputy Bledsoe then put away his gun and took Mast's arm to take him off the motorcycle and make an arrest.
When Mast got off the motorcycle, the inflatable vest he was wearing inflated. Deputies say they did not know he was wearing the vest, and a struggle ensued, leading to Mast landing seated on the ground with Deputy Bledsoe "briefly on top of him" and Deputy Call trying to put Mast in handcuffs.
Shortly after, deputies say they noticed that Mast was unconscious and started to provide medical care. They took off Mast's helmet and handcuffs, started CPR and gave two doses of Narcan to try to reverse an overdose. An AED was used but it did not give a shock.
Deputies continued trying to resuscitate Mast until paramedics arrived, according to authorities. Mast was later pronounced dead at Ashe Memorial Hospital.
Deputy Call was also taken to Ashe Memorial Hospital but was later released. Both deputies were placed on administrative leave as an investigation into the incident began.
The Ashe County Sheriff's Office says that before Mast's death, he was under investigation for reportedly distributing methamphetamine in the area. Two days before his death, investigators learned that he had left the county to get narcotics to distribute and it was decided that, if deputies spotted Mast, a traffic stop would be made.
Officials did not say if deputies knew who they were stopping on September 13. The Sheriff's Office also says that they do not condone the "inappropriate language used by officers," but say the language used did not appear to have led to Mast's death.
Homeowner arrested in Chicago, accused of Dilworth house explosion waives extradition to NCThe State Medical Examiner's Office says that 13 factors led to Mast's death, the main factor being the inflatable vest. Other factors included methamphetamine and pre-existing heart disease. Since the death happened during an altercation with deputies, it was ruled a homicide.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations took charge of the case, and the Watauga County District Attorney was assigned to help. After reviewing evidence and body-worn camera footage, a grand jury decided on April 28, 2025, not to bring charges against the deputies involved.
Watauga County District Attorney Seth Banks has asked for the NCSBI to close the case based on the jury's decision.
The Ashe County Sheriff's Office has declined to comment on the case until the investigation into the incident was completed. Sheriff B. Phil Howell says his office is praying for Mast's loved ones, the deputies and the community.
Sheriff Howell also voiced concern, stating that the 911 Dispatch Center, Sheriff's Office and their families have received disturbing threats of violence following the incident. He says his hope is for reconciliation.
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