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Flag at half staff in memory of Stanley police sergeant

STANLEY, N.C. — Flags were placed Friday along Main Street in Stanley and the main flag is at half staff in honor of a Stanley police sergeant who died this week after suffering a heart attack.

Sgt. Jim Abernethy, 47, was taken off of life support and died Thursday at Caromont Regional Medical Center after suffering a heart attack last week.

He was an 18-year veteran of the Stanley Police Department.

Stanley’s police chief told Channel 9 earlier this week that Abernethy was compassionate, loved by the community and never met a stranger.

[PAST COVERAGE: Community rallies behind Gaston County sergeant who is on life support]

Those who knew him said he had heart trouble in the past and recently became supervisor of the school resource program following open-heart surgery last year.

He began his career in law enforcement as a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer in 1993.

Funeral Arrangements for Sgt. Abernethy are as follows:
Stanley Pentecostal Holiness Church
Receiving of Friends:  Saturday, February 25, 2017 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Funeral:  Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.

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