Task force arrest

This morning around 8 a.m., agents and the patrol division of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence on Daniel Street.  

Agent D.J. Epperson had been investigating this residence for several months due to citizen complaints.   

During the search of the residence with the assistance of Agent D.R. Radford and his dog, Tony, agents seized cocaine, marijuana, a digital scale and plastic bags.

Epperson arrested and charged Terrance Green, 36, of the residence, with felony possession of cocaine, possession with the intent to sell/deliver cocaine, possess marijuana up to one-half ounce, possession of marijuana paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance.

Green received an October 25 court date.

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HCSO reports

Monday at approximately 2 p.m., Deputy Brandon Council stopped a vehicle on Jackson Street in Roanoke Rapids for a movement violation.

Council conducted a search of the vehicle and located a white rock substance later identified as crack cocaine.

Donny Lynn Gums, 54, of Roanoke Rapids, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine.

Gums received a November 15 court date and was placed in the Halifax County Detention Center under a $1,000 secured bond.

Corporal Dustin Newsome and his dog, Duri, assisted.

Sunday at approximately 12:30 a.m., Deputy Ginger Weston stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation on Evans Road in Hollister.

Weston identified the driver as Ingrid Evans, 27, of Hollister, and two passengers as Olivia Cashaw, 21, of Vaughan, and Timothy Richardson, 20, of Norlina.

During a search of the vehicle, Richardson attempted to destroy cocaine in his possession.

Weston arrested and charged Richardson with possession of cocaine, alter/steal/destroy criminal evidence, and possessing an open container after consumption of alcohol.

Richardson received a November 15 court date and a $2,500 unsecured bond.

Evans was issued a citation for driving while license revoked, failing to have insurance, and displaying an expired registration plate.

Cashaw was issued a citation for possession of an open container of alcoholic beverage.

Trooper J. Keeter of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol assisted.

Fraud suspect  

On Friday at approximately 4 p.m., Denise Leeann Walker, 21, of Roanoke Rapids, surrendered to the police department on obtaining property by false pretense warrants.  

Hasty served the two warrants and Walker received a $2,000 bond and November 1 court date.

The charges stem from an investigation by Investigator J. Benthall into a report filed on September 20.

Walker allegedly used fraudulent credit card numbers to make purchases of food from a local business.

Disturbance call  

On Friday at 6:45 p.m., Officer A. Green responded to a disturbance call in the 1000 block of Cedar Street.

Jalen Tymere Garner, 22, was in the street yelling and cursing.  

During the investigation Garner was asked numerous times to calm down and stop causing a disturbance. He refused to cease or leave the area.

He was arrested and charged with resisting/delaying/obstructing an officer.  

He received a $500 bond and October 27 court date.

Master Officer A. Salmon and Officer J. Shelburne assisted.

Domestic disturbance

On Saturday at approximately 8 a.m., Salmon responded to an assault call in the 900 block of Franklin Street.

Salmon observed the suspect drive away as he approached the residence and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

The suspect refused to stop for blue lights and siren and after going for several blocks pulled into a residence in the 200 block of Preston Street.  

Salmon took James Randolph Williams Jr., 27, into custody for flee to elude with a motor vehicle, driving while license revoked and two counts failure to stop for stop sign.

He was also served warrants for assault on a female, damage to property and interfere with emergency communications.  

He received a $4,000 bond and November 1 court date.

Sergeant T. Tyler and Master Officer G. Morris assisted.

Kidnapping

On Sunday at approximately 11 a.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of Gordon Drive for a disturbance.

Officers learned a female was forcibly removed from the area by two people.

Investigator G.L. Williams learned Tahaun Lavelle Jenkins Jr., 19, and Malik Tyjirian Lee, 18, both of Roanoke Rapids forced a female into a vehicle and drove away.

Jenkins and Lee were located and arrested and charged with kidnapping and assault on a female.

They received $10,000 bonds and November 1 court dates.

The victim was located unharmed.

Also during the investigation, Lamarius Shankey Hockaday, 24, of Roanoke Rapids, was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana. He received a $1,000 bond and November 17 court date.

Lieutenant P. Parks, Tyler, Salmon and Shelburne assisted.

Hasty said the matter was related to a domestic issue.

Part of the plan includes removing the failing pool at the recreation center and replacing it with a splash pad, said Derrick Williams of Benesch, a site planning and landscape architecture firm in Charlotte.

Preliminary conceptual plans for the park include a new playground away from a flood-prone creek, a new shelter near the recreation center, a new shelter near where the splash pad would be and new parking.

There is also a proposal to relocate the basketball court outside the immediate park area and put it along the Dixie Street entrance along with adding new parking, which would provide a more spacious park, Williams said.

Some of the residents attending the forum were skeptical of that plan.

The forum comes after council determined in August its funding options for a new pool at Chaloner were all but exhausted.

The city has discussed the master plan in the past and its approval is a key part of the process in seeking grants from Kate B. Reynolds and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

The one item Kate B. Reynolds does not fund is pool repairs or new pool construction, Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon has said. Pools do not score high enough with the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to be valid.

Councilman Carl Ferebee, who had fought for pool repairs at Chaloner, said he is generally pleased with the plans although he’s not happy with plans to move the basketball court.

Overall, he said, “I think the people I represent can accept the pool is too expensive to build and some alternative to the pool may fit.”

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With grant funding for a pool out of the question, resident Margaret Clark asked about the possibility of new multipurpose center.

Williams responded, “It would require more parking … I’m not so sure it’s the proper place.”

Two other parks are included in the conceptual planning for improving areas in the Highway 158 corridor.

Williams described Martin Luther King Park off Virginia Street “as a very nice space as it is right now. We want to make it better.”

Conceptual plans for the park show a new concrete walk, pavers with King quotes in the area of the statue along with benches. The conceptual plans also show adding shade and ornamental trees.

Wheeler Park sits off Shell Street and plans show removing the existing playground and moving it closer to Thomas Street with the addition of screening. Plans show a new shelter and new parking area.

The basketball court, which the neighborhood in the past has asked to be removed due to complaints of vandalism, would be removed.

An informal play lawn would be created with the relocation of the existing playground equipment.

Simeon said the city won’t move forward with grant applications until the masterplan is completed.

The next step will be to present the plans to city council for their review and then come back shortly after to adopt the masterplan.

The existing agency, located on Julian R. Allsbrook Highway in Roanoke Rapids, will close at the end of December due to the retirement of the current contractor, Jo Ann P. Cameron. The policy of the Division is to open applications to operate a new license plate agency whenever a contract expires or ends.

Completed applications must be returned to NCDMV no later than Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017.  The applications (Form MVR-93 or Form MVR-93AA) are located on the Connect NCDOT website. Interested applicants may call (919) 861-3332 with questions.

LPAs offer vehicle registration services and title transactions, as well as vehicle license plate renewals, replacement tags and duplicate registrations.

Currently, 123 license plate agencies operate across North Carolina. 

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Staff at U.S. Nails on East Tenth Street recognized the money as counterfeit, Lieutenant Charles Vaught said. The women left the store.

Vaught said the women received services valued at $65. He said the currency used was prop money which has been circulating within the past two months.

The crime occurred October 2  shortly after 6 p.m.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police department at 252-533-2810, Detective Gorton Williams at 252-533-2821, or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.

The Court of Appeals ruling was made September 19.

The case will now move on to the state Supreme Court.

Chief Judge Linda McGee dissented from the opinion authored by Judge Donna Stroud and joined by Judge Lucy Inman, agreeing with the plaintiffs commissioners statutorily charged with disbursing funding to the three separate school districts in Halifax County, must do so “in a way that does not violate the constitutional right to a sound basic education established by our Supreme Court in Leandro I, and must be able to be held accountable for their failure to do so.”

The Coalition for Education and Economic Security, the Halifax County Branch of the NAACP, and three parents and guardians of schoolchildren in Halifax are plaintiffs in the case and are represented by the UNC Center for Civil Rights, the national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Latham & Watkins LLP.

"This case seeks to hold county officials accountable for improving the indisputably substandard education that students of Halifax County have been subject to for far too long," stated Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "These students, who are disproportionately African-American and poor, have been denied their right to a sound, basic education as guaranteed by the North Carolina Constitution. We hope and expect that the North Carolina Supreme Court will recognize the rights of our clients to sue the county."

Rebecca Copeland, president of CEES, said, “It makes no sense that an arm of the state—the board of county commissioners— cannot be made to follow the North Carolina Constitution. We are confident that the highest court of our state will put us back on the right path."

The case was filed in August 2015, and alleged the Halifax County Board of Commissioners’ support, maintenance, and funding of the three racially disparate, low-performing school districts to serve less than 7,000 students creates an insurmountable obstacle to academic achievement and educational opportunity, in violation of the North Carolina Constitution.

“We knew when we began this effort seven years ago that it would be a long, hard road,” said David Harvey, president of the Halifax County NAACP. “While our legal team works on the appeal, we will continue to expose the truth about how being divided is not only a waste of our public resources, but also causes lasting harm to the most important resources of all: our children.”

“We continue to be inspired by the tenacity and courage of our clients,” said Mark Dorosin, managing attorney at the UNC Center for Civil Rights. “This case concerns core issues of constitutional governance, and goes to the heart of what Leandro promised, not just to students and families today, but to future generations. We trust that the North Carolina Supreme Court will reverse this decision, and allow us to proceed to a trial on the merits of our clients’ case.”

Larceny from person

On Tuesday at approximately 7:15 p.m., Officer J. Shelburne responded to the police department to discuss a disturbance which occurred earlier in the afternoon.

The victim said Bryan Christopher Buffaloe, 26, of Potecasi, allegedly took items while they were parked at a stop light.

Buffaloe was arrested and charged with larceny from a person.

He received a $2,000 bond and November 1 court date.

Officer J. Spragins assisted.

Wanted persons

On Tuesday at approximately 11:30 p.m., Lieutenant P. Parks conducted a traffic stop for a violation.  

Sheena Jean Summerlin, 32, of Rocky Mount, and Christopher Eugene Russell, 33, of Roanoke Rapids, had numerous outstanding warrants out of Nash and Edgecombe counties.

Summerlin was arrested on outstanding warrants for obtaining property by false pretense, larceny and an order for arrest for a probation violation. She received a $2,000 bond and December 19 court date.

Russell was arrested on outstanding warrants for breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, obtaining property by false pretense and aid and abet larceny. He received a $2,500 bond and October 26 court date.

The charges stem from investigation by the Nash County Sheriff’s Office and Nashville Police Department.

In addition to the handgun, marijuana was seized, Captain A.M. Harris of the City County Drug Task Force said in a statement. Agent C.A. Parker arrested 32-year-old Phillip Themes.

The search warrant execution was made shortly after 8:30 p.m. at a residence on Lovegrove Lane with assistance from the patrol division of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office. The search warrant was based on complaints of drug activity at the residence.

During the search agents seized marijuana and several items of drug paraphernalia.  

Agents noticed during the search Themes approaching the residence. He attempted to leave the area when he saw the agents.

Agents seized from him a bag containing Mason jars, individually wrapped bags of marijuana and a handgun.

Halifax County Central Communications advised the gun was reported stolen from Orlando.

Parker arrested and charged Themes with possession of a stolen firearm, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana up to one and one-half ounce, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

Themes received a November 15 court date.

The victim, who the fire department declined to name, was taken to Halifax Regional by Halifax County EMS for treatment of smoke inhalation and was expected to be transported to North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill for further treatment, Deputy Chief Mike Clements said.

The extent of the man’s injuries beyond smoke inhalation was not immediately clear.

The department received the call of a house fire at 434 Franklin Street shortly before 2:45 this morning and arrived to find flames coming out of the northwest corner of the residence.

Firefighters entered the house and did a quick knockdown. As it was unclear whether all occupants had safely exited the residence, firefighters did a search and found the male victim in a room adjacent to the room of origin, Clements said.

The victim was removed and CPR was performed before EMS took him to Halifax Regional. A family pet, a cat, was also safely returned to the occupants.

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Other residents of the house escaped through windows and other exit points, Clements said.

It was unclear how the family was alerted to the fire. Battalion Chief Kevin Hawkins said firefighters were unable “to locate any form of smoke detection.”

Hawkins said the fire’s origin was in the living room and the cause is believed to be tied to an improperly spliced wire for a window air conditioning unit.

Clements said damage was contained to the room of origin and there was smoke and heat damage throughout the house.

Clements said teamwork by A-shift helped in locating the victim. “Once we determined a person was inside, a search was conducted and the person was found and rescued by members of A-shift working together as a team.”

The scene was deemed under control around 3 a.m. and firefighters remained at the residence until nearly 5 this morning for salvage and overhaul.

Sixteen firefighters, three members of Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad, EMS and police responded.

In all, Denise Leeann Walker, 21, reportedly ordered $1,700 worth of food items from the establishment, according to the report.

Chief Chuck Hasty said in a statement Investigator J. Benthall Wednesday filed 13 more counts of obtaining property by false pretense against Walker, who received a $5,000 bond for the latest charges.

Walker surrendered to police on Friday on the two original charges.

The initial report was filed on September 20.

Walker has a November 1 court date on all charges.

Tony Roberts, 52, of Garysburg, was charged by Investigator O.L. Wiltsie following an investigation which began last Monday, Roanoke Rapids police Chief Check Hasty said in a statement.

Roberts, who with worked with parks and recreation, is no longer employed with the city.

He received a $2,000 bond and November 1 court date where he will answer to the charge of providing or furnishing a mobile device to an inmate.

Hasty said the charge stems from an investigation Wiltsie began last Monday when a correctional officer was doing a search of inmates returning from work assignments and found one of them in possession of a cell phone.

The investigation is ongoing.

Captain B.L. Martin and North Carolina Department of Public Safety staff assisted with the investigation.

Mahogany Ellasia Person,16, of Roanoke Rapids was arrested at approximately 9 a.m. Thursday by Roanoke Rapids police Officer H. Grimes on outstanding warrants for larceny and possession of stolen goods.

Lieutenant C.L. Vaught charged her with obtaining property by false pretense for the matter which occurred last Monday at U.S. Nails on East Tenth Street.

The second person has been identified and will be charged with the same count.

“We received a lot of calls and tips through the posts on the various social media sites to help us identify these young ladies,” Chief Chuck Hasty said in a statement. “I would like to thank everyone who gave us the tips.”

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The crime occurred October 5 around 7:30 p.m.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police department at 252-533-2810, Investigator Obert Wiltsie at 252-533-2823, or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.

Cafeterias system wide will be serving up fresh collard greens, squash and apples during the month of October.

The school system is participating in the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Farm to School program which works to put locally grown fruits and vegetables into schools.

The schools also feature special in-cafeteria promotions highlighting locally grown foods served throughout the year. October is recognized nationally as Farm to School Month.

The Farm to School program has continually grown since its start in 1997, with a $100,000 increase in sales from 2008 to 2010.

The 2011-2012 school year was the biggest for the Farm to School program, with more than $1,200,000 in total sales to local schools.

“Our school system has been a longtime supporter of the Farm to School Program and we have been happy with the results,” said Joseph Otranto, Halifax County Schools food nutrition director. “Our kids look forward to having North Carolina products on the food line. Strawberries and watermelons are among some of their favorites. Plus, I like knowing we are helping support local farmers.”

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler appreciates the schools’ support, too, and sees the program as a positive step in helping fight childhood obesity.

“We are fortunate in this state that farmers produce so many fruits and vegetables, so school kids have plenty of healthy and nutritious choices,” Troxler said. “It doesn’t get much fresher than being grown in your own state.”

NCDA&CS Food Distribution and Marketing divisions coordinate the Farm to School program.

In addition to collard greens. squash and apples, school systems are able to purchase other commodities throughout the year, including watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, cabbage, sweet potatoes and broccoli.

Food Distribution coordinates deliveries of the commodities from the farms to the school systems, and the marketing division works with farmers to fill orders.

For more on the Farm to School Program, contact Heather Barnes, NCDA&CS marketing specialist, at (919) 707-3127 or go to www.ncfarmtoschool.com/.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police department at 252-533-2810, Lieutenant Charles Vaught at 252-533-2819, or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.

Additionally, Lieutenant Charles Vaught of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said a 15-year-old girl will be petitioned to juvenile court on the same charges.

Vaught was expected to file the new warrant against Mahogany Person this evening. That warrant will be for obtaining property by false pretense after she reportedly passed a $100 counterfeit bill at a Becker Drive nail salon on September 29.

She already faces a charge of obtaining property by false pretense for allegedly passing a counterfeit bill at a nail salon on East Tenth Street last week.

The juvenile will face petitions for the East Tenth Street and Becker Drive crimes as well.

Person was arrested around 9 a.m. Thursday by Officer H. Grimes on outstanding warrants for larceny and possession of stolen goods and was also served the original nail salon warrant.

The larceny and possession of stolen goods charges against her stem from a warrant taken out on her for allegedly stealing a cell phone.

Vaught said movie prop money was used to pay for the manicures.

Shemar O’Neil Tillery, 17, of Enfield, was charged Thursday on counts of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, discharge a weapon into an occupied moving vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

Detective Willie Murphy Jr. said this afternoon the robbery attempt is not related to other acts of violence committed in recent months in the town and is not believed to be related to alleged gang activity.

He declined comment on how the victim in the case was lured to a residence in town where the robbery attempt occurred on October 4 around midnight on Southeast Railroad Street.

Investigation began when the victim escaped gunfire by driving to a safe place and notifying law enforcement.

Murphy said in a statement the victim was led to the residence by Tillery where the robbery attempt, carried out by three masked men, later occurred.

Murphy confirmed there is evidence linking others to the crime and investigation continues.

Tillery ws jailed on $50,000 bond and is scheduled for court on November 1.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444 or Central Communications at 252-583-1991.

Bicycle getaway

On Friday at approximately 11:45 a.m., Walmart loss prevention reported a person stole a bike and left the store riding it.

Sergeant M. Moseley spotted the suspect on the bike on East Tenth Street near Georgia Avenue and attempted to stop him.  

The man weaved in and out of traffic on Tenth Street and went behind several businesses in an attempt to get away from law enforcement.  

Master Officer J. Hardy and Officer C. Fortier caught Kevin Earl Elrod, 26, of Garysburg, in the backyard of a residence in the 900 block of Raleigh Street.

Elrod was found in possession of narcotics.

He was charged with larceny, possession of stolen goods, resisting/delaying/obstructing an officer, damage to property and possession of marijuana.

He received an $8,000 bond and October 27 court date.

Employee charged with theft

On Friday at approximately 5:30 p.m., Hardy responded to a report of employee theft at Dunham’s.

Loss prevention reported Jordan Brigman, 18, of Roanoke Rapids, allegedly took cash and merchandise from the store.

She was arrested and charged with larceny by employee.

She received a $1,000 bond and December 6  court date.

Disturbance calls

On Saturday at approximately 3:30 p.m., Lieutenant B. Norton and Fortier responded to a residence in the 400 block of Madison Street about a disturbance.  

They found a woman was assaulted and had visible injuries.

Travis Dill, 64, of Roanoke Rapids, was arrested and charged with assault on a female.

He received a $500 bond and October 27 court date.

On Saturday at approximately 6:30 p.m., Officer S. Blythe  responded to a disturbance call in the 1900 block of Roanoke Avenue.  

Blythe found Clemmon Maurice Alston, 53, of Roanoke Rapids, intoxicated and trespassing on posted property.  

He received numerous warnings to leave the property. He refused to leave and began yelling and cursing.

Alston was arrested and charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct and resisting/delaying/obstructing an officer.

He received  a $1,000 bond and October 27 court date.

Chief Chuck Hasty said in a statement the victim reported around 4:30 p.m. Friday they fell for a bail money scam.

The victim received a phone call from someone they thought was a grandchild, asking them for money to get out of jail and to pay for damages the grandchild caused.

The caller asked the victim to get gift cards from Walmart to pay the money. The victim did what was asked and the caller called the victim back to get the information from the cards.  

After the victim completed the transaction they received another call telling them the amount was not enough to pay for everything.

The victim told the caller that they couldn’t send any more money.

The total amount of cards purchased was $4,500, according to the report.

Here are some ways to avoid these scams from the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office:

• Don’t answer calls from phone numbers you don’t recognize or emails from addresses that aren’t familiar to you.
• Beware of anyone who asks you to send money immediately, no matter the reason.
• Don’t share information about you or your family with anyone you don’t know who calls, emails, or contacts you through other means.
• If you get a call or a message asking for help, hang up or log off and contact the person directly at a number you know is theirs to make sure the request is legitimate.
• If someone claims to be a loved one, ask the person questions that only your real family member would be able to answer.
• Share carefully on social media. Make sure your privacy settings prevent strangers from accessing information about you or your family.
• Never wire or send money in response to a phone call, email or online message. Once the money has been received by a fraudster, it’s almost impossible to get it back.

Here are a few more websites for tips to avoid being a victim of scams

http://www.ncdoj.gov/Consumer/Tips-for-Seniors/Grandparent-Scams.aspx

http://www.ncdoj.gov/Protect-Yourself/2-4-6-Avoid-Consumer-Scams.aspx

http://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-07-2012/grandparent-scam-wa1889.html

Commissioner Marcelle Smith made the suggestion the board review its plan at its yearly retreat scheduled in December. “I’m asking for us to add (discussions of the plan) to the retreat and revisit our plan as it relates to school improvement.”

In looking over minutes for the Weldon High School issue, Smith said he reviewed documents going back to 2009. There will were also discussions going back to 2010 and 2012. “All those I had gone through talk about Weldon City Schools. The last plan lists schools not in existence right now.”

Commissioner Carolyn Johnson suggested the school systems, which have their own school improvement plans, could help the board by sharing their documents. “We need to know what’s in the school facility plans.”

Said Smith: “I’m operating on old information.”

As far as Weldon’s request for funds, commissioners agreed to take $38,000 from the county contingency fund to allow the system to pay for a study which could lead to recommendations on whether the high school should undergo renovations or whether a new school should be constructed.

System Superintendent Anitra Wells told the board this evening the school board agreed last week to request commissioners allocate the funds for the study and it had no preference what firm would be used.

The $38,000 was the price quoted by Raleigh-based Davis Kane Architects.

The company, in a July 21 letter to County Attorney Glynn Rollins, stated its goal would be to determine whether the school should be renovated or a new building should be constructed on a new or existing site.

In determining the options, one of the deciding factors would be coming up with probable costs as well as determining program needs compared with the needs to state Department of Public Instruction standards.