Tag Archive for: #hendersonpolicedepartment

Henderson Man Shot Dead; Two Suspects Charged With First-Degree Murder

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A Henderson man was killed in the early morning hours of Friday, Apr. 29 and police have charged two Oxford residents with first-degree murder.

James E. Mellon, 27, of 465 Powell St., died of a single gunshot wound, according to information received Monday morning from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Police responded to 465 Powell St. at 12:45 a.m. Friday after receiving a report of a shooting at the location.

When officers arrived, they found Mellon, who had suffered a single gunshot wound. He died at the scene, according to Barrow.
“Solid leads were quickly established, and through the diligent work of the Henderson Police Department, we were able to develop suspect information leading to the arrest of two individuals thus far,” Barrow said.
Rashaun Hunt and Jada Peace, both 21 years old, have been charged in connection with the death. They were remanded to remanded to the Vance County Detention Facility pending initial court appearances.
The Henderson Police Department requests assistance from the public in identifying other suspects who may be involved in this case.
If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact the police department via Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252.492.1925, by using the P3 app, by calling the police department at 252.438.4141, or by Facebook or Instagram.
Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $2,000 for information assisting in criminal cases.

U.S. Department of Justice

Local Man Gets 90-Month Prison Term For Drugs, Firearms Possession

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A Henderson, North Carolina man has been sentenced to 90 months in prison and three years of supervised release in connection with charges stemming from a 2020 operation at a local convenience store.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, Seikeidrick Antwon Williams, 36, was named in a six-count Superseding Indictment filed on March 3, 2021, charging him with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, ANPP, and Marijuana (Count One); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Counts Two and Five); Possession of a Firearm by a Felon (Counts Three and Six); and Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin (Count Four).  On August 31, 2021, Williams pled guilty to counts two and three.

The information comes from a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement on Wednesday, Mar. 30. The Henderson Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Dodson and Lori B. Warlick prosecuted the case.

According to the press statement, on August 7, 2020, the Henderson Police Department (HPD) was conducting an operation in the area of the Fiddlestix Convenience Store in Henderson, when Williams approached an undercover officer and offered to sell her heroin.

According to the press statement,
the encounter “ultimately resulted in a search of Williams and his vehicle, at which time officers found a bag containing 8.5g of marijuana and a bag containing 243 dosage units of heroin mixed with fentanyl and ANPP.  Officers also found United States currency, a set of digital scales, and wax paper with rubber bands, commonly used to package heroin.  In the vehicle’s glovebox, officers found a loaded SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol with an extended magazine.  The gun had been reported stolen from Granville County.”

Williams was stopped for speeding by Franklin County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 2, 2020, while on bond for state charges related to the August charges. Williams was stopped for traveling 73 mph in a 55-mph zone.  During the stop, a K9 unit conducted an open-air sniff around Williams’s vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics.  Deputies searched the car and found a Glock pistol, a SCCY pistol, approximately 145 bindles of heroin, and multiple empty wax paper heroin bags with small rubber bands, consistent with heroin packaging.

Williams is a convicted felon, having been convicted of second-degree murder in Vance County Superior Court in 2005, for which he was sentenced to 180 to 225 months in prison.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:20-cr-451-D.

HPD Detains Two Suspects In Catalytic Converter Theft

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The Henderson Police Department on Sunday morning followed up on an alert from Granville County that resulted in the detention of two suspects.

A BOLO (be on the lookout) alert was issued by Granville County about 9:30 a.m. Sunday in reference to a blue and white truck occupied by a white male and a white female, according to HPD social media post. The post continued by stating that the couple had been seen removing converters from disabled vehicles along I-85 in the area.

A police officer who had remembered seeing an abandoned vehicle along the northbound lanes of the interstate between exits 212 and 213 drove back to the location and spotted the suspect vehicle.

The officer “engaged the two suspects and noticed a catalytic converter in the bed of the suspects’ truck, partially covered by a tarp,” the post stated.

The two were transferred to the custody of Granville and the truck was towed.

TownTalk: HPD Chief Barrow Discusses the “9pm Routine” and Local Public Safety

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It’s just good sound advice, but coming from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow, getting into a #9PMRoutine, it sure sounds like something everyone in the area should pay attention to.

Barrow joined John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk to discuss how a few simple steps at the end of each day could give residents peace of mind about their safety.

“We’re supposed to feel safe in our homes,” Barrow said. A nationwide campaign that is #9PMRoutine reminds folks to lock their vehicle doors, close and lock exterior doors of the home and turn on exterior lights to keep yourself from being an “easy victim” of crime.

Grownups may remember growing up in a time where nobody locked their car doors and may not have even locked their doors at night, but they also didn’t have all those shiny, portable electronic devices – GPS systems, cell phones, computers – that are easy targets for theft.

The main idea of the #9PMRoutine is just that – getting people in a routine that they remove their valuables from their cars and remove the temptation for would-be thieves.

“Portable things that you can easily walk away with that have value” are what thieves are looking for, Barrow said.

Additionally, he said his department gets lots of calls about firearms being stolen from vehicles. Barrow suggests that those gun owners who support the Second Amendment right to bear arms also need to know the responsibilities associated with that right.

“Be responsible about how you leave it in your vehicle,” he said.

Visit the Henderson Police Department’s Facebook page to learn more about the #9PMRoutine.

 

 

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TownTalk: Law Enforcement Staff Shortages And Pay Disparities In Vance Co.

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The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is hiring. There are openings for detention officers at the county detention center, and there are openings for sheriff’s deputies as well. A qualified candidate for a job as a detention officer could earn a starting salary between $33,000 and $35,000.

The City of Henderson also is hiring and a qualified candidate for a police officer job is guaranteed a salary of $42,503. That salary is adjusted upward for candidates with college credits.

These are basic facts easily available in a quick online search. If only it were as easy as a click of the mouse or a few keystrokes to find candidates to fill these jobs.

Vance Sheriff Curtis R. Brame told WIZS News that there are 17 positions available at the local detention center and eight positions available at the sheriff’s office.

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow says his department loses personnel who get jobs in law enforcement agencies in nearby counties – as well as the N.C. Highway Patrol.

It all boils down to what counties and cities are willing – and able – to pay for qualified personnel.

“We lose people to the N.C. Highway Patrol, Franklin County and to the Wake Forest police department,” Barrow told WIZS News by text message Wednesday. He said one need only look at the pay scale for a state trooper to understand why it turns the heads of employees in other law enforcement agencies. The average salary of a state trooper in North Carolina is about $46,000.

The Town of Wake Forest, for example, has posted on its website that a salary for an officer with no prior sworn law enforcement experience is $50,243. There are salary additions, including an extra 2.5 percent for a candidate with an associate’s degree to 5 percent if a candidate is fluent in Spanish. A new officer also receives an automatic 5 percent increase after six months of employment with the town.

At the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, starting pay a non-BLET certified officer is $34,000, plus incentives. (BLET stands for Basic Law Enforcement Training. Vance-Granville Community College offers BLET classes for those interested in a career in law enforcement.)

That salary jumps to close to $40,000 for those with BLET certification. The Durham Sheriff’s Office has similar salary add-ons as the Wake Forest police department – a 2.5 percent bump each for an associate’s degree, fluent Spanish speaker and honorable discharge from military service and a 5 percent increase for candidates with a bachelor’s degree.

Smaller, more rural communities like Henderson and Vance County face challenges every day from neighboring areas that benefit from being closer to larger, more urban areas.

It’s competition, pure and simple. And a little bit of supply and demand. But without competitive pay packages, demand is probably always going to exceed supply.

 

The Local Skinny! Henderson Police Could Soon Have A Robot On The Force

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The Henderson Police Department could have a new tool in its complement of resources to help law enforcement officers as they work to keep the community – and themselves – safe. Chief Marcus Barrow said the remote-control robot would be something that other agencies in the region would be able to use, too.

He and the department are always looking for new tools to help mitigate situations, and when he saw a grant opportunity to pay for it, he applied. “So far, everything’s looking good,” he said. If all goes according to plan, Barrow said the robot could be ready for use in early spring 2023.

The grant, from the Governor’s Crime Commission, would cover $24,500 of the $25,500 price tag for the Vantage robot, which has climbing capability, a camera that can live-stream and an arm that can manipulate objects. If the department is awarded the grant, the city would have to find the additional $1,000.

Its most practical use, Barrow said, probably would be in a hazardous materials situation. “We take hazmat courses every year,” he said, “and we’re warned about the stuff that travels up and down I-85 and in our city.” Having a robot that could be sent close a wreck scene, for example, would help keep officers from being exposed to harmful materials.

With any other piece of equipment, the timeline would involve training and getting handlers used to how the robot works. “I would like it to be here and deployable as quickly as possible,” Barrow said, adding that it would be an added benefit to other agencies in the region, not just for the city’s use. He said once multiple people are trained on using it, the robot would be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Technology increasingly plays a role in the work of law enforcement, and Barrow said a recent grant for body-worn cameras was awarded to the department. But it’s a 50 percent match, and now he’ll be looking for that match. It’s a big expenditure, and Barrow said he “didn’t feel our local citizens should foot that bill” for the entire amount. But with matching grant funds identified, he said the body cameras may be something on the horizon for local police officers, and he added that he planned to go before the city council shortly to request those matching funds.

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TownTalk: Police Chief Marcus Barrow; Henderson City Ordinances

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City officials have begun the task of updating ordinances to comply with a Dec. 1 deadline that will affect whether violations are considered a criminal infraction that could lead to arrest or a civil infraction that could result in a fine.

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow explained the process to John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk. After consulting with his officers and staff, Barrow said he identified seven ordinances to be updated first. The City Council adopted the updated ordinances at its most recent meeting.

Back in 2018, Barrow said the state asked cities and municipalities for a list of ordinances that were enforceable by law enforcement personnel. Previously, the wording had indicated that “unless otherwise stated,” all ordinances were enforceable through citation or arrest. However, “a lot of things (have) happened in law enforcement” since then, Barrow said. The state General Assembly attached to a police reform bill that Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law in September a laundry list of items that affect city and municipal governments statewide.

In laymen’s terms, effective Dec. 1, unless specifically stated, all city ordinances are not enforceable by law enforcement officers. Barrow said the state basically changed the way ordinances must be written; “unless the ordinance specifically says it’s a criminal offense, it will not be,” he explained.

The first group of ordinances that were updated and adopted by the City Council are:

  • 7-54.14. – Enforcement (Golf Carts)
  • 10-7. – Loitering
  • 10-20. – Noises – Prohibited acts
  • 10-42. – Weapons, bows, slings, etc. (Discharging firearm in the city)
  • 10-44. – Trespassing on city property
  • 10-45. – Use of city parks within certain hours
  • 10-49. – Concealed weapons on city properties

 

City Manager Terrell Blackmon said this group of ordinances were chosen first because they are important for public safety.

He said a team of city officials is going to review all ordinances in the near future to update wording and possibly remove outdated ordinances.

“(The team) includes both chiefs, the city clerk, city attorney, development services director and myself that will be working on this project,” Blackmon told WIZS News via email. “We may also solicit the services of an external consultant to pull it all together once we have identified other ordinances that may need to be addressed,” he said.

Barrow said cities, including Henderson, may see an increase in civil actions instead of citations and arrests when ordinances are violated – fines and not crimes, he added. But what happens when someone goes to collect those fines or impose a civil action? “We can always go with them to maintain peace and order,” Barrow said. He predicts that cities and municipalities across the state will have to make some adjustments after the Dec. 1 deadline passes, but he said Henderson is in pretty good shape.

Because the police department is internationally accredited, it had already addressed the majority of tweaks and adjustments called for by the state.

“We’re sitting OK right now,” Barrow said.

 

 

Support ‘Shop With A Cop’ Project – Buy A Ticket For Chance To Win Cash Prize

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The “Shop With a Cop” program kicked off Wednesday, and there are 180 opportunities to help make the project a success.

This year marks the sixth year that the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Henderson Police Department and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office to raise money for local law enforcement to go Christmas shopping with underprivileged youth in the community.

Chamber President Michele Burgess said she is pleased to report that many sponsors are helping to provide financial support, which means that at least $5,000 will be raised for the shopping spree that will take place in December at the Walmart in Henderson.

In addition to sponsors, there are 180 tickets available for purchase. The number of the ticket is the price you pay, and four winners will be drawn. The top prize is $2,000, followed by prizes of $1,000, $500 and $200, according to the Chamber.

Stop by the Chamber office to purchase a ticket, or purchase a ticket from members of the Chamber board as well as from members of the police department and sheriff’s office.

Burgess said she hopes all tickets will be sold by Oct. 22 – the drawing for the cash prizes is scheduled for Nov. 10.

It remains to be seen whether the Nov. 10 event will be a small event like last year, or whether it can be larger, as in 2019 when the community gathered at Sadie’s Coffee Corner to hear the winners announced.

The real winners, of course, are the children who get to shop with a cop in December.

“They will actually go with a policeman or a law enforcement person to Walmart and they’ll be able to pick their gifts,” Burgess said.

The children get to have fun and have positive interaction with a law enforcement officer, and the officers get quality one-on-one time with a young citizen, she added.

Burgess is especially appreciative of the support from sponsors and said one sponsor reported that he had always had a great Christmas, and wanted to make sure that children in the community had a similar experience.

Contact the Chamber at 252.438.8414 to learn more or visit www.hendersonvance.org.

“Shop With A Cop” Program Seeks Sponsors For Annual Holiday Event

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Summer is in full swing, its sweltering temps encouraging folks to stay inside in the air conditioning. But it won’t be too long before summer gives way to cooler weather that will usher in the holiday season.

And in the middle of this heat, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is preparing for the annual “Shop with a Cop” scheduled for December. This is the sixth year that the Chamber has partnered with local law enforcement agencies and area businesses to make the event possible.

The Chamber is asking for sponsors to join Maria Parham Health to help make this event a success. Again this year, MPH has stepped up to be the presenting sponsor, according to information from Sandra Wilkerson, director of administration and events for the Chamber.  The goal is to raise at least $5,000 from sponsors so members of the Henderson Police Department and the Vance County Sheriff’s Office can take underprivileged youth in the community Christmas shopping.

The shopping spree will take place at the local Walmart, and the Chamber is partnering with law enforcement and local business to continue to build the community partnership.

The campaign kicks off on Sept. 22. Contact Wilkerson at sandra@hendersonvance.org or 252.438.8414 to learn more.

The three sponsorship levels are gold, silver and bronze.

For $1,000, Gold Sponsors get their name on a ticket board, company recognition on social media at the live kickoff event and raffle drawing, as well as recognition in Chamber publications and on the actual shopping day.

Silver Sponsors, for $750, get their name on the ticket board, recognition on the social media live kickoff event and raffle drawing, and recognition on the day of the shopping spree.

And for $500, Bronze Sponsors get their name on the ticket board, and recognition at the live kickoff event on social media.

The Local Skinny! Barrow Seeks Grants; K9 Officer For HPD

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Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow will welcome a new officer to the department soon. It’s a Labrador retriever, trained and ready for service.

Barrow said the police department first started using K-9 units in the early ‘90s, and there were two dogs in service until last year.

“We went from two to none there pretty quick,” Barrow told John C. Rose on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! segment.

This breed of dog will be a first for the department, which previously used either Malanois or German Shepherds. The dogs have a trainer/handler and require a special vehicle to support the animal while it’s working.

When Barrow got a call from the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement agency about the 4-year-old lab that was available, he jumped on it.

“We actually went up there and watched it work, and we liked it,” Barrow said. And he got a pretty good deal – sale price $1. There is also a K-9 vehicle at ALE that Barrow hopes will be coming his way. This expenditure will be made with money from asset forfeiture funds, used strictly for police department needs, he added.

There is money in the latest police budget for purchase of two animals, and Barrow said they’ve already purchased one pup who will be ready to begin his training soon.

The K-9 officer that just had his animal retire last year is set to leave very shortly to meet and train the dog – and himself.
Barrow said the handler will simultaneously be training the new dog while completing his own certification as a trainer.

So when Dog #3 joins next spring, he will be able to train another officer to become that dog’s K-9 handler.

In some additional police matters, Barrow said he feels confident that his department will be approved for at least one of the grants that it has applied for, and either one would be a good addition for him and his officers. One grant is for the purchase of 52 body-worn cameras for police officers and a second grant is for equipping cruisers with additional cameras.

As was shared with the City Council when he sought approval to proceed with the grant requests, the cost is less in the price of the cameras, but in the equipment needed to properly store the data the cameras generate. Some data needs to be stored for a short period – say, 90 days – and some data needs to be stored permanently.

“I have strong feelings that I’ll get one or the other, or even both” Barrow said. He said the police department has enjoyed a good relationship with grant providers in the past. “I don’t know how we could survive without them,” he said of the funding opportunities.

Barrow said the city council also approved use of asset forfeiture funds to install a gate, fencing and shrubbery around the new outdoor pavilion outside McGregor Hall.

Cost for the project is about $30,000, although Barrow said he was still waiting for a few quotes. The 15 or so public parking spaces will go away to allow for a ramp to be built off the pavilion. The ramp is needed for unloading and loading equipment when there are performances at the pavilion, he said.

The project will help protect the pavilion and will create a buffer between that area and the police department.

“I needed something that could go up and down constantly, so we’re going with a hydraulic system,” Barrow said, kind of like the gates you’d see in big city parking lots.