More than 300 students attended Historic Halifax today to mark the 241st anniversry of the signing of the Halifax Resolves.
As students toured the historic structures on the grounds of the historic site, the Halifax Resolves Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution marked the occasion with their own program.
Festivities continue throughout the day with a program at 2:30 p.m. at the visitors center.
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A Seaboard area man is in jail on $1.25 million bond after surrendering in a shooting Tuesday afternoon in which the victim was shot numerous times with a handgun.
Captain Patrick Jacobs of the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office said the man arrested, Devon Everett, has an extensive criminal history. State Department of Public Safety Records, however, indicate no convictions on crimes of the magnitude he now faces — attempted first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
Jacobs said in a statement the victim is in stable condition at an undisclosed location. He said this afternoon investigators have not established a motive in the case.
Investigation began Tuesday around 12:20 p.m. after the sheriff’s office received a 911 call from a male victim who stated he had been shot numerous time.
The man was located near the woods off Jordan Mill Road outside Seaboard and behind an abandoned building.
Jacobs said Lieutenant Jonathan Jenkins and other investigators quickly identified the shooter as Everett.
Everett surrendered to the sheriff’s office in the evening hours and Jenkins charged him.
Sheriff Jack Smith this afternoon praised the work of Jenkins and other investigators in the case as well as the work of EMTs and paramedics at the scene. “Without the efforts of EMS there was an especially good chance he (the victim) would have passed.”
Jacobs said the investigation continues and more charges are expected to be filed.
Everett is scheduled for his first court appearance Thursday.
In the statement, Smith commented on “ the effort put in by the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators and especially Lieutenant Jenkins. I would like to thank Chuck Joyner and EMS staff from Northampton County, Chief Virginia Powell with the Seaboard Police Department and Chief Melvin Garner with the Garysburg Police Department for their assistance. I would like to thank the Northampton County 911 Center dispatchers for their diligent effort and direction in this call.”
Two women face heroin counts following a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation this afternoon.
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City County Task Drug Force agents D.R. Radford and D.W. McKeel stopped the vehicle around 2 p.m. on Vine Street near Smith Church Road, Captain A.M. Harris said in a statement.
Radford seized heroin and syringes,
Harris said this evening some of the heroin and needles were in plain view and some fell out of one of their shirts. He said it is possible the women, Brittany Deanna Adams, 32, and Jessica Lynn Tilley, 20, had allegedly just purchased heroin in the area.
Both Adams, of Roanoke Rapids, and Tilley, of Goldsboro, were charged for felony possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for a controlled substance.
Tilley was also cited with a North Carolina Uniform Citation for failure to wear seat belt. Adams and Tilley received $3,500 bonds and May 17 court dates.
Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant J. Bozard assisted.
The Halifax County Special Olympics were held today with students across the county as well as Northampton.
This year's event was held at Southeast Halifax High School.
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State Attorney General Josh Stein will be the commencement speaker at Halifax Community College’s May 13 graduation exercises.
The commencement is at 10 a.m. at The Centre on the college’s campus.
Stein is the 50th attorney general for the state and assumed office January 1.
Prior to his election, he served as a member of the North Carolina General Assembly as the senator for District 16 in Wake County.
During his tenure, Stein was elected to serve as the minority whip.
Before successfully running for a state Senate seat, he served eight years as North Carolina Deputy Attorney General for Consumer Protection.
“We are excited and honored that the North Carolina Attorney General has accepted our invitation to provide the keynote address for our 50th Commencement ceremony,” said Michael A. Elam, president of HCC. “Those in attendance will benefit significantly from what I believe will be a timely and pertinent message from a top state official addressing current issues.”
Stein earned his juris doctorate from Harvard Law School, as well as a master of public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
He earned a bachelor of arts from Dartmouth University.
Stein is married and has three children.
A woman who reportedly caused an outburst and damaged items at Waffle House last week is scheduled to appear in court next month to answer to charges lodged by the Weldon Police Department.
Jessica Rooke Coward, 33, of Vanceboro, faces two counts of kidnapping; two counts assault with a deadly weapon and one count of criminal damage to property.
Deputy Chief James Avens said Coward was charged Monday upon her hospital release following an evaluation.
She has a May 3 court date was jailed on $25,000 bond.
The charges stem from an investigation early Friday morning where the woman broke items, blocked employees from exiting and customers from entering.
She caused about $5,000 in damages and also harmed herself in the process.
Avens said motive has not been determined and Coward hasn’t made a statement.
She was in town working construction, Avens said.
A woman who was reported missing Sunday was found safe in Rocky Mount, the Roanoke Rapids Police Department reports.
Lieutenant Charles Vaught said Barbara Hernandez contacted a relative in New York who, in turn called the missing woman’s mother.
Hernandez was last seen in the 1700 block of Roanoke Avenue on March 10, the police department said earlier this week.
In other cases, Chief Chuck Hasty reported the following:
Fraud arrests
On Tuesday at approximately 9:30 a.m., Officer A. Green arrested and charged Doris Kearney Lashley, 46, of Littleton, for obtaining property by false pretense.
Loss prevention at Walmart told Green Lashley allegedly went into the store and got items and then went to the customer service area and obtained a refund.
Lashley received a $3,000 bond and May 3 court date.
Sergeant M. Moseley assisted.
At approximately 2:45 p.m., Investigator G.L. Williams arrested and charged Kimberly Bailey Evans, 54, of Roanoke Rapids, with larceny, possession of stolen goods and obtaining property by false pretense.
The charges stem from a report taken in March, where the victim stated several items were stolen from their home.
During the investigation Williams discovered the items were allegedly pawned.
Evans received a $2,000 bond and May 3 court date.
Drug charges
At approximately 10 p.m., Officer J. Mason conducted a traffic stop at Roanoke Avenue and Thirteenth Street for a violation.
During the stop Mason found Zachary Kyle Grissom, 20, of Roanoke Rapids, in possession of narcotics and paraphernalia.
Mason cited Grissom for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of open container and speeding.
Grissom was released until his May 8 court date.
Officer N. Velazquez assisted.
At approximately 11 p.m., Master Officer R. Ball was checking a business on Julian R. Allsbrook Highway when he noticed suspicious activity at NY Nails.
During the investigation Nguyen Thanh Phan, 40, of Roanoke Rapids, was found in possession of narcotics and paraphernalia.
Ball charged Phan with possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling.
He received a $3,000 bond and April 19 court date.
Officer G. Colson assisted.
A 23-year-old Weldon man was charged today with statutory rape following an investigation by the Roanoke Rapids Police Department.
Lieutenant Charles Vaught charged Cortez Quwon Jackson after a report was received last month of a crime reportedly committed in November, Chief Chuck Hasty said in a statement.
The victim’s parents reported Jackson allegedly had sexual relations with a juvenile child. Hasty said this evening Jackson was familiar with the victim.
The investigation continues and more charges could be filed.
Jackson was jailed on $50,000 bond and has a May 3 court date.
Walmart larceny
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Meanwhile, Vaught reported the police department is investigating a larceny from Walmart which occurred on March 30 around 4 a.m.
The two unidentified men in the accompanying photo gallery entered the store and proceeded to steal merchandise.
The suspects stole multiple video games and electronics and concealed the items in a bag taken from the sporting goods section.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact law enforcement, the police department at 252-533-2810, Detective Chris Babb at 252-533-2823, or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.
Employee theft
On Wednesday at approximately 7:30 p.m. Sergeant M. Peck arrested and charged Marcus Devon Jones, 44, of Roanoke Rapids, with larceny by employee.
The charges stem from an investigation by Peck reported last month. The business reported Jones allegedly stole money from the register.
Traffic stop
On Wednesday at approximately 5:15 p.m., Babb conducted a traffic stop for a violation on West Tenth near Hinson Street for a violation.
During the stop Babb found James Randolph Williams Jr., 27, of Roanoke Rapids in possession of narcotics and a revoked license.
Babb cited Williams for driving while license revoked and possession of marijuana.
Williams was released until his April 19 court date.
Officer O. Wiltsie assisted.
Roanoke Rapids police are looking for a man reported missing by family members.
Lieutenant Jeffrey Baggett said Quinton Earl Banks, 28, was last seen walking in the area of Becker Drive and Hunting Ridge Road around 5 a.m. today.
He lives in the area of Graystone, Baggett said.
Banks stands about 6-feet, 1-inches tall and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He has a muscular build and a tattoo on his left forearm.
Has was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, light blue jeans, and gold and white Air Jordans with laces.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police department through Halifax Central at 252-583-2488 or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.
A man reported missing today was found by his family in Emporia.
Lieutenant Jeffrey Baggett of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said law enforcement also made contact with Quinton Earl Banks and learned he was OK.
The 28-year-old had last been seen in the area of Becker Drive and Hunting Ridge Road around 5 this morning.
In a move demonstrating an underlying confidence the theater will eventually be sold, Roanoke Rapids City Council this evening agreed to send a refinancing proposal to the Local Government Commission which could represent substantial savings over what it currently pays on the venue’s debt.
Council chose a two-pronged option which includes a two-year, short-term taxable note proposed by Bank of America and a long-term, tax-exempt package.
The two-year taxable note assumes a fixed interest rate of 2.98 percent on principal of $3,675,000, according to a presentation by Ted Cole of Davenport & Company, which has served as the city’s bond advisors since it began discussing the possibility of restructuring the debt.
The proposal, according to Cole’s presentation, has a two-year final maturity date on the taxable note.
It would allow the city, Cole said, “to buy an extra year” to put a plan together on how to come up with the $3.67 million.
It would also allow the city to negotiate an extension rollover with BOA or utilize term out provisions.
The potential savings over the 15 years of the tax-exempt bonds will vary year to year, according to the presentation,with $754,341 realized in the 2018 fiscal year and more than $860,000 in the 2020 through 2022 fiscal years.
Payments on theater would essentially stay fixed at $964,952 for the majority of the 15 years, according to Cole’s presentation. The city currently pays slightly more than $1.8 million a year.
Councilman Wayne Smith, who made the motion to go with the option, said he wanted to go with the proposal which represented bigger savings. “I think in the next two years, the theater is going to be sold.”
He said after the meeting there are discussions with three individuals interested in buying the venue. He would not divulge the names and said no offers have been made. “I feel confident it will be sold.”
He said the savings the city will realize if the refinancing agreement is approved by the LGC are “going to have a great benefit with expenses and capital outlay.”
In a statement on the matter, City Manager Joseph Scherer said the action taken this evening, which included passing the adoption of a bond order and a final authorizing resolution, allows him to deliver documents which will call for the redemption of the city’s original 2007 special revenue bonds.
“The city council’s actions allow the administration to continue to move forward in attempting to restructure the city’s financial obligation with Bank of America while establishing long-term financial stability and improved annual cash flow relief,” Scherer said in the statement.
The city manager said, “At the end of the day, these actions will allow us to do away with the uncertainty of our annual payments on bonds that have a variable interest rate, which continues to trend upward, along with numerous fees and transaction costs and instead establish a fixed rate loan that we can budget for with certainty into the future.”
He continued in the statement, saying, “Our annual payment will be lower than what we pay now to Bank of America, giving us some income to make up for the loss of revenue by state legislature decisions.”
LGC consideration of refunding the original bonds and swap termination will occur on May 2.
Once the city receives LGC approval, “We hope to complete these transactions by mid-May. This will allow us to finalize our budget projections for next year,” Scherer said in the statement.
The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate a morning home invasion in which the victim shot at the alleged suspects.
The armed robbery of the victim occurred on Highway 158 just outside Roanoke Rapids, Detective B.C. Griffin said this afternoon.
The sheriff’s office received the call around 8 a.m. and learned three people came in the house and robbed the victim at gunpoint. Griffin declined comment on what was taken during the robbery.
The victim did fire shots but Griffin declined to say whether the shots were fired from inside or outside the residence.
He did say the three suspects fled and it was not immediately clear whether any of them were injured.
The victim was injured as a result of the home invasion but not from gunfire.
Investigators continue to follow up on leads and speaking with persons of interest, Griffin said.
The Halifax Resolves Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution honored a longtime officer for his community policing efforts during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“Deputy Chief Andy Jackson has been instrumental in the police department’s summer kids camp, National Night Out, Citizens Police Academy and Neighborhood Watch programs,” said Ken Wilson, who presented the SAR Law Enforcement Commendation Medal to Jackson. “He plans, coordinates speakers, schedules entertainment and vendors for the National Night Out event.”
Jackson developed the Citizens Police Academy program and organizes the watch programs, Wilson said. “Deputy Chief Jackson works many hours on each of the programs and embraces the challenges without any gripes or complaints.”
Jackson said following the presentation, “I’ve never been one that really expected to have awards or commendations or being singled out. I believe it’s a collective effort and all the credit and recognition goes to the whole department.”
Chief Chuck Hasty said today, “We nominated him because of his dedication to programs, community policing and how he cares about the community.”
From left, Baggett, Davis, Green and Grimes.
Meanwhile, Hasty honored four officers as Officer of the Quarter — Lieutenant Jeff Baggett, Investigator Jeff Davis, Officer Alex Green and Officer Hannah Grimes.
Baggett and Green led the department in drug seizures, DWI arrests and getting guns off the street, Hasty said.
Davis solved 70 car breaking and entering cases as well as a larceny at KapStone which led to arrests in multiple jurisdictions.
Grimes used law enforcement resources to help Wake County law enforcement solve a missing person case and is consistently in the top three to four for arrests similar to those for which Baggett and Davis were lauded.
Roanoke Rapids police Tuesday seized items consistent with an indoor marijuana growing operation and continue their investigation.
Police arrived at the residence in the 600 block of Williams Street around 2:30 p.m. after receiving complaints of an operation inside the residence, Chief Chuck Hasty said in a statement.
The complaints and subsequent investigation led Investigator Chris Babb to apply for a search warrant which was executed with assistance from the City County Drug Task Force.
Investigators seized multiple items consistent with growing, cultivating and processing marijuana.
Babb said grow lights were seized but declined to elaborate on what else was taken or how sophisticated the operation was.
Hasty said in the statement investigators also seized multiple items of drug paraphernalia, electronics and several weapons.
No one was home at the time the search warrant was executed and charges are pending completion of the investigation.
A Gaston man was charged Wednesday afternoon after he struck a building in the 600 block of Julian R. Allsbrook Highway and reportedly claimed the vehicle he was driving was stolen.
Roanoke Rapids police Chief Chuck Hasty said Troy Elmore Patterson, 20, was charged by Officer J. Mason with filing a false police report and hit and run with property damage.
Mason responded to the call around 1 p.m. along with the city fire department. Witnesses stated the driver and passengers fled the area.
Mason, who conducted the investigation, learned Patterson attempted to report the vehicle as stolen.
Two juveniles were in the car at the time of the collision and Mason will be consulting with authorities about possible charges.
Patterson received a $500 bond and May 22 court date.
Investigator J.K. Davis, Sergeant M. Peck and Officer G. Colson assisted.
Hasty also reported that on Wednesday around 9 p.m., Officer J. DeSare conducted a traffic stop for a violation on Apollo Circle.
Narcotics and paraphernalia were found inside the vehicle and DeSare cited Zabriel Maurice Johnson, 23, of Roanoke Rapids, with possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and a tail light violation.
His court date is May 22.
On Tuesday around 10 p.m., DeSare conducted a traffic stop for a violation on Third Street near Hamilton.
Narcotics and alcohol were found inside the vehicle.
DeSare cited Crystal Marie Owen, 32, of Roanoke Rapids, for possession of marijuana and cited Nate Walker, 39, for possession of an open container.
They were both released until their May 22 court dates.
Lieutenant J. Baggett assisted.
A Hobgood teen was charged late Tuesday night after allegedly cutting a victim with a knife.
Chief Deputy Scott Hall of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said this morning it was not clear what prompted the crime.
He said in a statement Deputy T.J. Vesce responded to the James Street area of Hobgood around 10 p.m. and learned the victim was cut and sustained a severe laceration to his left forearm.
Further investigation led Vesce to obtain warrants on Jashon Rascoe, 16, for felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.
Rascoe was jailed on $1,500 secured bond and has a May 17 court date.
United States Senior Judge Malcolm J. Howard signed an order today moving the Operation Rockfish trial of Antonio Tillmon to May 15.
It had originally been scheduled to begin next Monday.
Documents filed in the federal court record do not explain what prompted the continuation.
It is expected the trial will take five days and will begin at 10 a.m. at the federal courthouse in Greenville.
Tillmon is the only one of the 15 charged in the police corruption case to ask for a jury trial.
A Northwest Halifax alumni has been chosen as director of prisons, the state Department of Public Safety announced today.
Kenneth Lassiter was named to the position by Secretary Erik A. Hooks.
In taking the position, effective May 1, Lassiter replaces George Solomon who is retiring after 33 years.
Lassiter will oversee 55 state prisons which house more than 36,500 inmates. The state prison system has a budget of approximately $1.2 billion and more than 17,000 employees.
Lassiter is a 28-year corrections veteran who has served for the past three years as the state prison system’s deputy director for operations.
He served as central region director and as warden at Central Prison, and moved through the ranks serving as superintendent, assistant superintendent of custody and operations and other managerial positions in all custody levels.
He began his career as a correctional officer in 1989 at Odom Correctional Institution outside Jackson.
“As a career professional, Kenneth Lassiter has managed our facilities and operations with great passion and expertise,” said Hooks in a statement. “Having a nationally-recognized leader like Kenneth who has a wide array of experience in safety and security roles in prisons is critical to helping protect the public, our employees and the inmates in our care.”
W. David Guice, chief deputy secretary for Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice said in the statement, “As we continue to re-mission our prison facilities, improve mental health care and work to reduce the use of segregation, Kenneth is the right leader to move that work forward. I want to welcome Kenneth to this new role and thank George Solomon for his many years of excellent service as he enters retirement.”
Lassiter is a graduate of Northwest Halifax High School, a U.S. Army veteran and attended South Piedmont Community College.
Within NCDPS, he is a general instructor, firearms instructor and graduate of the Correctional Leadership Development Program.
He currently serves on the American Correctional Association’s Board of Governors and its membership committee.
Hooks also today tapped Tracey Lee as director of community corrections.
Lee is a 27-year Community Corrections veteran who began his career as a probation officer in Charlotte.
On the cusp of daybreak, sheriff’s office and state probation officers combed Halifax County to verify its 115 to 120 registered sex offenders were where they were supposed to be.
What they would find after the sweep is most of the sex offenders were compliant.
Five matters will be investigated further said Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Chris Scott, who heads the civil division. The possible violations to be investigated are those dealing with online identifiers and address verification issues.
That the number of violations was low, Scott said, “Tells me this office is consistent with monitoring offenders. I think it’s a positive sign that we’re maintaining public safety. I believe it’s a win.”
In a 2014 sweep, when there around 102 registered sex offenders in the county, nine were found non-compliant, Scott said. “We take it very seriously. The idea was to beat the nine we had in 2014.”
The day begins
Scott began briefing probation officers, sheriff’s office investigators and deputies as well as agents of the City County Drug Task Force shortly after 5:30 this morning.
Prior to the briefing Scott said about 90 percent of the county’s sex offenders stay compliant. There's always some, he said, who “go astray.”
About 5 percent of those on the state sex offender registry are on it for life.
While part of the aim is to ensure compliance, another component is education, something he stressed to the officers during the briefing. “A lot of offenders are eligible to petition the court to get off the list.”
He provided the officers petitions. “That’s part of their job to tell them they can get off. It doesn’t cost a thing.”
Scott provided the officers dossiers with offender photos, aerial views of their residences and what he called “makeshift layouts” of their houses.
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On the road
Chief Deputy Scott Hall followed the officers from location to location.
“I think this is one more effort we have to ensure the safety of the citizens and children from predators within our county lines,” he said, driving first to Roanoke Rapids.
Most of the offenders declined interview requests made through the officers doing the compliance checks.
Jimmy Clegg, who lives in Littleton, did agree to be interviewed.
He has been on the registry for 9 years and is one of those eligible to get off the list next year, according to his own account and information contained in the registry.
Asked what he did, he said he was accused of “hitting on kids” and “touching them in the wrong place.”
He claims, however, he didn’t do what he was charged with. “They messed me around,” he said of the authorities.
He was convicted in Harnett County of two counts of sexual battery when the victim in the case was 13 and he was 42.
He claims he “got caught up” in a matter with his first wife but didn’t seek a jury trial in his case.
Because he is listed on the registry, “I can’t be around kids, can’t be around schools.”
When he gets off the registry, he said, “I’ll be happy then.”
The registry does note he has not had any violations while his name has been on the registry.
Scott declined comment on what Clegg said.
The end of the sweep
“The sheriff’s office has no tolerance when it comes to sex offenders and there are reasons why there is a sex offender registry,” Sheriff Wes Tripp said. “Deputies continue to monitor aggressively those on the sex offender list. What they found today is even more proof we take this seriously.”
Tripp said Scott is tasked with monitoring the sex offenders in the county and each deputy is assigned two sex offenders to check. “They don’t know when we’re coming to check on them.”
The sheriff also said he has people routinely call him on how often they are checked. “My response is to do what they can to get off the list. Some are on this for life. My passion will always be for the children and other victims of sex crimes in Halifax County.”
City County Drug Task Force agents assisting a sex offender registry compliance check this morning made a marijuana arrest during the operation.
The man arrested, Demarko Rashad Minor, 25, of Garysburg, was not a sex offender but was sitting in a vehicle at a residence which was to be checked, Agent D.R. Radford confirmed.
Agent J.R. Matthews and Investigator R.M. Brown of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office encountered Minor around 8 a.m. at a residence on Creek Drive as he sat inside a vehicle.
The officers detected the odor and after a search of Minor and the vehicle, seized 26 grams of marijuana.
Matthews arrested and charged Minor with possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for a controlled substance, possession of marijuana up to to a half-ounce, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
He received a $1,000 bond and May 17 court date.
