Graham Courthouse incidents lead to two arrests

Local authorities arrested Chadwick Hightower (left) and Christopher Overman (right) Saturday evening following a series of incidents at the Alamance County Courthouse in downtown Graham. Hightower was charged with disorderly conduct and was held in the Alamance County Jail under a $300 bond, while Overman was charged with assault on a female and was held under a $500 bond. Hightower and Overman were part of a large assemblage of opposed factions who came to the Court Square Saturday evening - some in protest of the Confederate Monument, and others vowing to preserve and protect it. 

 Alamance County Sheriff's Office

On June 20, officers with the Graham Police Department were in the area of Courtsquare to maintain the peace between groups of people who had opposing views surrounding the placement of the Confederate Monument located at the Historic Alamance County Courthouse in the downtown Graham area. 

At 8:47 p.m., a Graham Police Officer observed Chadwick Hightower, a 48-year-old white male of Burlington, swinging his hand at an individual taking photographs. He was immediately detained and the person taking photographs was not available for identification. While detailing Chadwick officers observed Christopher Overman, a 39-year-old white male of Gibsonville, striking Megan Squire in the arm. He was immediately arrested. 

Chadwick Hightower was charged with disorderly conduct and was held in the Alamance County Jail under a $300 bond. Christopher Overman was charged with assault on a female and was held in the Alamance County Jail under a $500 bond.

Due to the ongoing civil unrest associated with Civil War monuments across the country, the Graham City Mayor issued a State of Emergency and initiated a curfew that took effect at 9:00 p.m. on June 20. Both groups left the area once the curfew took effect and no other issues were reported. Mayor Peterman concluded the curfew the evening of Monday, June 22.