Felony suspect located and taken into custody by Hickory Police

Hickory Police Officers were conducting a property check at a Food Lion in Hickory when they located a suspicious vehicle belonging to a Conover man wanted on multiple felony warrants.

Hickory Officers located the suspicious vehicle parked at a Food Lion at 3220 Springs Road NE just before 10 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026. Officers attempted communication with the subject inside the vehicle with no response.

Officers later made entry into the vehicle and located Johnnie Lee Roy Lail, 37, of Conover. Lail was taken into custody at 12:17 p.m. and then transported to an area hospital for medical evaluation. 

The warrants for Lail were for Habitual Felon, Felony Possession of Schedule II, Felony Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle, Felony Larceny, Felony Attempted Larceny, Felony Breaking and Entering, two counts of Felony Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor Injury to Real Property, and Misdemeanor First Degree Trespassing.

The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the Hickory Fire Department and Catawba County EMS also responded and assisted with this incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Scott Cameron at scameron@hickorync.gov or call the Hickory Police Department at 828-328-5551.