Haywood County Sheriff Bobby Suttles announced he is stepping down in early February.

Suttles, 68, was appointed sheriff in February 2009 following the retirement of then-sheriff Tom Alexander. Suttles was elected to the post in November 2010, a term which was to expire in 2014.

Suttles declined to comment on his decision, but has been putting the word out about his impending retirement quietly for the past several weeks.

Haywood County Commission Chairman Mark Swanger said he has spoken with Suttles about the issue, but has not yet received the formal letter notifying the commissioners of his decision. It's a letter County Manager Marty Stamey gave him a heads-up to expect.

“I understand he told his deputies last night,” Swanger said Thursday. “We had no conversations about who he would ...