Tag Archive for: #hendersonpolicedepartment

TownTalk: Henderson Police Department Update

/by

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow calls himself an “old-school” police officer, but that doesn’t transfer to the officers in his department – he wants the younger officers to bring their technological skills with them – from flying drones to using AI to streamline inter-office guidelines.

“I think we’re probably a step ahead of everybody in the region,” Barrow said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. Besides using facial recognition software to help solve crimes, the city of Henderson also has more FLOC cameras in use than nearby municipalities.

“We’re the smallest agency in the United States to have a NIVEN entry site,” Barrow continued. NIVEN analyzes shell casings to aid in police investigations.

And there are the drones, a tool that he said will most likely continue to grow, based on what he hears at conferences and reads in professional publications.

Mixing in the use of the latest technology means that the department is constantly learning and adapting to new concepts and equipment while maintaining high expectations for police performance.

Each year, the police department must be reaccredited through CALEA, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. There’s a site visit every four years now, and March 2025 marks the eighth time the police department has received its reaccreditation certificate.

“We’ve been working on accreditation since I got here in 1998,” Barrow said. There are 461 standards to meet.

The CALEA standards include every facet of police work, from swearing in of officers to how arrestees are processed to how documents and other material is stored electronically.

Barrow said Capt. Chris Ball informed him recently that there soon will be two more added to the list – one involving how the department uses AI in its daily duties.

AI can be a very useful tool, but Barrow said he, like others in law enforcement, want to see how the courts system accepts the use of AI.

He said one of the first questions a judge may ask an officer providing testimony is whether his report is in his own words. Of course, an AI-generated report may not satisfy that question, so Barrow said he’d like to see AI used to make something better, not as a replacement for an officer-generated report.

Take policy manuals, for example, he said. A policy manual could be cranked into an AI program and it could quickly spot inconsistencies and redundancies.

That’s using technology in a way that makes things better.

CLICK PLAY!

Henderson Police Make Arrest In Church Break-In

/by

Press release from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

On November 9, 2025, at approximately 8:20 p.m., officers of the Henderson Police Department responded to West End Baptist Church, located at 619 Dabney Dr., in reference to an alarm activation.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a broken window and observed a suspect inside the building. The individual, identified as Derrick Ricks, age 34, was taken into custody without incident. Ricks sustained minor injuries during his forced entry and was transported to a local medical facility for treatment.

Following his release from medical care, Ricks was taken before a magistrate where he was charged accordingly. He received a $30,000 secured bond and was remanded to the Vance County Detention Center.

Two Arrested On Drug Charges Monday

/by

– from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

During the morning hours of October 6, 2025, a multi-agency operation involving the service of four search warrants was conducted at separate locations within Henderson and Vance County. The search warrants were executed at 150 Falkner Street, 724 Jefferson Street, and 441 Pearl Street, all within the City of Henderson, as well as 57 Meredith Lane in Vance County.

This coordinated effort included personnel from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Wake Forest Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford Police Department, and the Henderson Police Department.

As a result of this operation, two individuals were immediately arrested (possible future charges pending further investigation), and illegal narcotics, firearms, and U.S. currency were seized.

Arrests and Charges

Kyrick Jykise Alston (19) of 57 Meredith Lane was charged with:

  • WFA – Sell/Deliver Heroin, and PWIMSD Heroin (prior)
  • WFA – Conspire to Sell/Deliver Heroin (prior)
  • WFA – Trafficking Opium or Heroin (×5), and PWIMSD Heroin (prior)
  • WFA – Trafficking Opium or Heroin (×4), and PWIMSD Heroin (prior)
  • WFA – Trafficking Opium or Heroin (×4), and PWIMSD Heroin

Alston received no bond and was remanded to the Vance County Detention Center.

Viola Alston (73) of 150 Falkner Street was charged with:

  • WFA – Felony Possession of Cocaine
  • Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling/Place for Controlled Substances (F)
  • Possession with intent to sell and deliver  Marijuana
  • Felony Possession of Marijuana

Viola Alston received a $25,000 secured bond and was bonded prior to transport.

Items Seized

150 Falkner Street:

  • 767 grams of Marijuana
  • 3.7 grams of Cocaine
  • One shotgun and two handguns (Walther 9mm pistol, Glock 20 – 10mm, KelTec 12-gauge shotgun)

724 Jefferson Street:

  • 151 dosage units of Heroin
  • 5.7 grams of Cocaine
  • $13,474 in U.S. Currency

441 Pearl Street:

  • One firearm (American Tactical AR Pistol – .300 Blackout)

57 Meredith Lane:

  • 440 dosage units of Heroin
  • One firearm (Anderson Arms AR-15)
  • $685.10 in U.S. Currency

Regional operations such as this and the one held last month continue to produce significant results in our ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime and illegal narcotics activity within our communities. The Henderson Police Department extends its appreciation to all partnering agencies for their continued cooperation and commitment to public safety.

One Arrested In Connection With Proposed Threat Posted On Social Media

/by

— information from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

 

On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, the Henderson Police Department received information regarding a proposed threat directed toward local governing bodies. The post on a social media platform, identified as belonging to Tracy S. Greenway, age 50, of Henderson, was perceived to be a threat directed at both the Vance County and City of Henderson governments.

The Henderson Police Department immediately initiated an investigation and coordinated with external partners. As a result of the investigation, Tracy S. Greenway has been arrested and charged with Solicitation to Commit Terrorism/Mass Shooting (NCGS 14-2.6, 14-10.1). Greenway was taken into custody and arraigned before a Vance County Judicial Official.

He is being held under a $90,000 secure bond and was remanded to an area detention facility.

This investigation remains ongoing. While no further details can be shared at this time, the Henderson Police Department is working closely with its partners to ensure the continued safety of our community.

 

The Local Skinny! One Man Arrested In Connection With Gunfire Incident

/by

— information courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

 

At approximately 10:45 a.m. on Monday, July 28, officers with the Henderson Police Department were dispatched to the 300 block of Ruin Creek Road following reports of active gunfire. Upon arrival at 381 Ruin Creek Road, a medical clinic, officers, along with deputies from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, located one of the individuals involved in the incident, Marquis Lamar Skinner, 37, of Oxford.

Shortly thereafter, officers learned that a second individual involved in the altercation, John Lee Sutton Jr., 43, of Manson, had arrived at a local emergency department with non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the incident.

As officers conducted their investigation, collecting statements, processing the scene and reviewing evidence, Skinner was taken into custody and transported to the Henderson Police Department. A firearm believed to have been used in the incident has been recovered.

Skinner has been charged with the following offenses:

  • Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury
  • Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle

He was presented before a magistrate and is being held without bond at the Vance County Detention Center awaiting his initial court appearance.

The Henderson Police Department extends its gratitude to the public for their cooperation and to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office for their invaluable assistance during this incident.

Click Play.

Collision On I-85 Wednesday Pins One Driver In Vehicle; No Serious Injuries Reported

/by

From Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

On the evening of April 30, 2025, at approximately 8:30 PM, a two-vehicle collision occurred on Interstate 85 near the 213-mile marker. The incident involved a 2015 Freightliner box-style truck and a 2018 Volvo semi-truck.

Preliminary reports indicate that the collision occurred when the Freightliner struck the rear of the Volvo semi-truck, pushing the both vehicles into the secondary-left lane. The impact caused the operator of the Freightliner to become pinned inside the vehicle. Emergency personnel responded promptly to the scene and successfully extricated the individual. They were transported to a nearby medical facility with non-life-threatening injuries. Traffic was diverted during this time for the safety of the involved parties and the safety of emergency personnel.

The driver of the Volvo semi-truck did not report any injuries at the time of the incident.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation. No further details are available at this time.

 

TownTalk: Utility Payment Scam Calls

/by

 

There’s another scam circulating in the area, according to the Henderson Police Department. This time, police officials say, they’ve received reports that someone is calling claiming to be from a utility company.

The caller says the utility service is being cut off and then provides another number to call to provide payment information – that can either be made from your bank account or cryptocurrency.

The police have one simple bit of advice: HANG UP!

Call the utility company yourself, using the number printed on your utility bill or from the company website – do NOT use the call-back number provided by the caller.

Often, the call-back numbers are fake, officials say. And if the message came via text, do not respond; rather, mark the number as junk or spam and report.

Customers should continue to use their regular method of payment and not follow the directions of the caller.

CLICK PLAY!

Henderson Police Make Drug Arrest During Call About Suspicious Activity

/by

— from the Henderson Police Department

On March 14, 2025, officers from the Henderson Police Department were dispatched to the area of South Elizabeth Street in response to reports of suspicious activity. While investigating the situation, officers made contact with an individual, later identified as Qwmaine Knott, who attempted to flee from a vehicle.

During his attempt to escape, Knott was seen discarding a package in his possession. Officers quickly apprehended Knott and recovered the package, which was later determined to contain approximately 6,950 dosage units of suspected heroin.

Following a thorough investigation, Knott was charged with three counts of Trafficking in Opium/Heroin and one count of Felony Maintaining a Vehicle for the Sale of a Controlled Substance.

Due to pretrial release conditions, Knott was denied bond and transferred to the custody of the Vance County Detention Center.

 

One Arrest Made In Connection With Car Taken At Gunpoint From William St. Business

/by

— information from Henderson Police Department

On December 28, 2024 around 7:05 p.m. a 2020 Jetta was taken from the parking lot of Brother’s Foodmart on William Street by two males with firearms. The vehicle was located by officers on December 29, 2024 around 12:05 p.m. on Lehman Street. Officers located two males inside the vehicle. One of the males, a 17-year-old juvenile was apprehended, while the other male fled on foot. The juvenile was also in possession of a stolen firearm. Petitions will be obtained on the juvenile.

If anyone has information related to this incident, they are encouraged to contact the Henderson Police Department at 252.438.4141, your local law enforcement agency, Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925, or use the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device.

 

Henderson Police Department CALEA Assessment

/by

The Henderson Police Department’s site-based assessment has concluded and Chief Marcus Barrow said if all goes well, the department will receive its formal accreditation in spring 2025.

Barrow said an assessor from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies arrived last Sunday, Dec. 8 and completed the assessment tasks before leaving on Dec. 12.

“He gave accolades to our Command Staff during our exit interview,” Barrow told WIZS News, “and we will hopefully hear back from the commission next month.”

The Henderson Police Department has held accredited status with CALEA since 2002.

The assessment looked at the department’s adherence to national standards and best practices related to life, health and safety procedures, according to information from Capt. Chris Ball of the Henderson Police Department.

There are 462 specific professional standards the department must comply with to achieve and maintain accreditation status. Reaccreditation is a thorough and demanding process, and successful completion demonstrates that policies, practices and procedures align with the highest levels of law enforcement professionalism.

Accreditation follows a four-year cycle, during which police departments like the HPD must maintain electronic records to prove compliance. The records are reviewed remotely each year, culminating in a site-based assessment in the fourth year.

As part of the process, the public is invited to submit feedback via the CALEA portal at http://cimrs2.calea.org/481.

The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency’s compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as fostering the pursuit of professional excellence.

It is important to know that CALEA is not an investigatory body, and subsequently, the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purposes. Additionally, there will be no response other than acknowledgement to submissions; however, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenets of CALEA® Accreditation.

Standard titles may be viewed on the CALEA website: https://www.calea.org/node/11406. The Henderson Police Department participates in the advanced level of accreditation. Questions related to the accreditation process may be directed to the Accreditation Manager at  bstrother@hendersonpd.nc.gov.