Firearms, stolen vehicle & marijuana seized during Lake Norman boat event, police say
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- Law enforcement issued over 30 citations during Black Boat Weekend on Lake Norman.
- Two individuals were arrested for boating while impaired; weapons and drugs seized.
- A multi-agency task force used drones and boats for coordinated patrol and response.
A heavily attended lake event on July 19 became a busy day for law enforcement as local and state agencies issued dozens of citations and made multiple arrests during Black Boat Weekend near Dog Island on Lake Norman.
While most attendees were in compliance with the law, several people now face serious charges stemming from weapons and drug violations, Lincoln County Sheriff Bill Beam wrote in a Facebook post Monday.
More than 30 citations were issued during the event, and two arrests were made for boating while impaired, Beam said. Officers also recovered a stolen vehicle, multiple firearms and more than 50 grams of marijuana.
Event organizer Charisme Dhanani said most citations issued were not on the water, with some who were cited not associated with the event.
“Whatever happened, it didn’t happen on the water,” Dhanani said. “There were almost 3500 people, and they gave out 30 citations. I think that’s like 1%, that’s a very small amount compared to the amount of people came. That’s like you telling me 90% of the people had a good time, which everyone did.”
Charges filed include carrying a concealed weapon, felony maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances, misdemeanor drug possession and paraphernalia, and various motor vehicle and registration violations.
The charges came as part of an enforcement effort involving more than a dozen agencies, including the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, the State Highway Patrol, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and police and sheriff’s departments from surrounding counties.
Patrol units were stationed across marinas, beach areas and boat access points, with additional support on the water by boats, jet skis and aerial drones operated by the Lincoln County Drone Team, Beam said.
No major injuries were reported.
Dhanani said he plans to host a similar event next year, with the announcement coming within the next few weeks.
This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM.
