In an interview with WIZS News, Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed Vance County FY 2019-20 budget.
Presented to the Vance County Board of Commissioners at their May 6 meeting, the budget proposes funding two of four requested deputy sheriff positions and none of the requested four detention officers for the Vance County Jail.
“Funding two of eight requested positions is not even meeting me halfway,” exclaimed Brame. “Without needed staff, we can’t continue to operate and keep Vance County secure and safe with calls to service steadily increasing and the opioid crisis spreading.”
“How can I, as the sheriff of this county, provide adequate and sufficient security for the residents if I don’t get the positions requested? The proposed budget doesn’t address the jail concerns at all,” Brame said.
After discussing the matter with staff, Brame’s office submitted a two-page rebuttal letter to the office of Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen this afternoon.
Brame expects further discussions to take place between his office, McMillen’s office and the Vance County Board of Commissioners in the coming weeks.
The Board of Commissioners are scheduled to meet in work sessions at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 21 to discuss and review the proposed budget.
A public hearing regarding the budget will be held at the Board’s next regularly-scheduled meeting on Monday, June 3 at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street, Henderson.
The final, approved version of the FY 2019-2020 budget will be effective July 1, 2019.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsresize_0000s_0081_vancesheriff.png.png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2019-05-17 16:51:562019-05-17 16:51:48Sheriff Curtis Brame: ‘Proposed County Budget Doesn’t Even Meet Me Halfway!’
On March 24, 2019, Lieutenant B.I. Gooch was traveling southbound on Highway 39 near Rice Road when a 1993 red Nissan pick-up truck crossed the center line into his lane.
Lieutenant Gooch stopped the truck for the traffic violation. During the traffic stop, 4-ounces of marijuana packaged for sale, a half gram of powder cocaine and approximately 10 unknown pills were recovered from the truck. The driver of the truck was arrested.
He is: Michael Coleman, age 24, 307 Waters Edge Road in Henderson.
Charge: possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, maintaining a vehicle to sell controlled substance, possession of cocaine and driving left of center.
Bond: $21,000
Michael Coleman of 307 Waters Edge Road in Henderson was arrested on March 24, 2019, and charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, maintaining a vehicle to sell controlled substance, possession of cocaine and driving left of center. (Photo courtesy VCSO)
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Michael-Coleman-Arrest.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-03-26 16:56:262019-03-26 16:56:26Traffic Violation Stop Turns Into Drug Arrest for Coleman
On March 19, 2019, in response to reported criminal activity, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, Narcotics Unit and Special Enforcement Response Team executed a search warrant at 505 Ivey Street.
Heroin, cash and a pistol were removed from the house. A stolen motor vehicle was recovered the previous night.
One person was arrested as a result of the search warrant:
Tasha Durham, age 37, 505 Ivey Street
Charges:
Possession of a stolen motor vehicle
Possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver heroin
Maintaining a dwelling for the sell of a controlled substance
Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Durham’s bond was set at $77,000.
On March 19, 2019, in response to reported criminal activity, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, Narcotics Unit and Special Enforcement Response Team executed a search warrant at 505 Ivey Street. Heroin, cash and a pistol were removed from the house. A stolen motor vehicle was recovered the previous night. (Photo courtesy VCSO)
Brame’s first order of business was assessing the current staffing structure and making a plan to strengthen areas of potential weakness. “I’m learning a lot,” he said. “Right now I’m doing an assessment. We have a good administrative staff and several have been promoted to a higher rank.”
Staying true to his campaign platform, Brame said he is also focusing on tackling the local drug problem and building rapport among the community.
“Right now, I’m working on reorganizing the division to get more deputies out on the street, and making sure we are more proactive in all areas,” Brame said.
Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame discusses his first few weeks in office with WIZS News. (WIZS Photo)
Brame is pleased with one recent victory that saw the Narcotics Unit arrest suspects involved in a “drug house” on Yancey Lane in Henderson. That case will be tried in federal court, according to Brame.
The process of helping to bust drug operations is helped along tremendously by information from the community, Brame said. “The rapport building that I talked about during my campaign has really paid off. People are sharing information on potential drug houses and activities.”
While Brame would like to expand the Narcotics Unit, he said the Sheriff’s Office as a whole is understaffed by at least nine people and has been understaffed for quite some time.
“I am addressing this issue with Vance County Commissioners for discussion when they plan the budget. They know we need the additional manpower; we can’t sufficiently provide adequate services to our citizens with the current manpower.”
Brame admitted recruiting officers to the area is harder than ever in a time when interest in a law enforcement career is down country-wide and surrounding counties are offering bigger paychecks.
“We have a retention problem,” Brame said. “Many see us as a training ground and then they go to work for surrounding counties that pay more. First responders and EMS have this same issue.”
“We spend a lot of money on training, they get here, we pay to train them and then they leave after 18 months or so. Then we have to start the whole process all over again.”
Brame admits he doesn’t have a quick-fix for long-standing recruitment issues, “Do I have all of the answers? No, I don’t, but we have to find a way to retain good officers and get them to stay right here in Vance County.”
In addition to focusing on the drug problem and retention issues, Brame said engaging in trust building activities and improving communication with the community is on his daily to-do list.
Up and out the door by 6:30 a.m. most mornings, Brame said he visits local restaurants, businesses and schools to talk with the citizens of Vance County and encourage them to share their concerns.
“We do not have enough eyes and ears [in the Sheriff’s Office] to combat the situation going on with crime and drugs. Get involved and share information. Reclaim your neighborhood and community,” Brame urged.
Brame said his phone number is open to the public and stated it on-air as (919) 691-6748.
“We are a public office and have an open-door policy. If you have an issue with the Sheriff’s Office, don’t just talk about me; come and see me or give me a call so we can address your situation.”
*To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Vance-County-Sheriff-Curtis-Brame.png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2019-01-17 16:59:062019-01-17 16:59:06Major Drug Bust, Rapport Building Define Brame’s First Weeks in Office
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Sunday, January 6, someone broke into several vehicles in the parking lot of Tungsten Baptist Church during church services. The church is located at 4944 Tungsten Mine Road in Henderson.
If you have any information regarding these crimes, please contact Investigator Gooch at (252) 738-2239.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsresize_0000s_0081_vancesheriff.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-01-07 16:58:022019-01-07 16:58:02Vehicle Break-Ins Reported at Tungsten Baptist Church
WIZS News was sending out a Facebook Live video this afternoon about record rainfall in the local area when suddenly part of a local law enforcement foot chase unfolded in front of the camera. WIZS staff witnessed at least two deputies pursuing the suspect on foot with their guns drawn.
According to an eyewitness, who was standing outside the Vance County Magistrate Office, a man fled the Magistrate’s Office on foot at about 3:10 p.m. on Friday, December 28. According to the eyewitness, the suspect put himself into the position of nearly being struck by a Henderson Police Department vehicle while he was fleeing across Chestnut Street.
The eyewitness’ description of the suspect turned out to be spot on. WIZS News chose not to show the suspect on video as he was being returned to the Magistrate’s Office a short time later. He was, however, in plain view and easily seen.
Before 3:20 p.m. on Friday, the suspect was taken back into the Magistrate’s Office, meaning his flight, the pursuit and his capture and return all happened in less than 10 minutes of elapsed time. As it was, a uniformed person with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office was seen bringing the suspect into the Magistrate’s Office.
Shortly after the incident, Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame confirmed that the suspect was Orrie Williams who was being brought in to the Magistrate’s Office by his bail bondsman to review his bond. Upon hearing that his bond was set at $40,000, Williams fled the scene.
Williams was originally brought in for failure to appear on two outstanding warrants for arrest, including charges of Driving While Impaired, Breaking and Entering and Felony Larceny After Breaking and Entering.
Brame told WIZS News by phone that he was pleased with the “quick response and a good job by the deputies of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.”
Here is a Friday Fraud Prevention Tip courtesy the Vance County Sheriff’s Office:
No law enforcement agency will ever require, demand, or request payment for anything via prepaid cards of any type. There are a limited number of circumstances where a deputy will accept money, but they are all face-to-face transactions that are accompanied by a civil process. We will never call you and allow you to pay your way out of a warrant with gift cards.
Unfortunately, we have had a repeated scam where someone will contact a target claiming to be Deputy So-and-so, telling the target that there is a warrant for missing Jury Duty or some other sort of reason. The scammer will use forceful language and attempt to coerce the target to go buy prepaid cards and read the numbers off the cards to them over the phone. They keep the target on the phone while they go to the store and purchase the cards. Once they get the numbers from the cards, they distribute the numbers to conspirators who go online and transfer the balance onto other prepaid cards. The funds are then laundered again, making them difficult to track.
The phone numbers they call from are usually “spoofed” using VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) to appear to be local numbers. The numbers cannot be traced back to anyone because they are not “assigned” using a legitimate phone service.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsresize_0000s_0081_vancesheriff.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-12-28 17:02:492018-12-28 17:02:49Fraud Prevention Tip, Courtesy the Vance County Sheriff’s Office
On Thursday, December 20, 2018, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Police Department, Vance-Granville Community College Campus Police, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol participated in the annual Shop with a Cop event at the Wal-Mart in Henderson.
Officers were paired with approximately 44 children and given a budget with which to purchase items for those children. Thanks to donations and sponsorships, many local children are having a Christmas to remember this year.
In addition to $6,000 raised in a fundraiser sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and Maria Parham Health in November, the Vance County Department of Social Services plays a large role in making the annual event a success.
Vance Co. DSS partners with local law enforcement, donates money towards Shop With A Cop and selects the children who participate in the experience through a referral process.
Children that were not selected for Shop With A Cop were matched up with sponsors who contacted the agency. This year, over 100 children will be serviced through sponsorships.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Shop-With-A-Cop-2018-1.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-12-24 11:56:262018-12-24 11:56:26‘Shop With A Cop’ Deemed a Community Success Story
THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA HAS ADOPTED FEDERAL CHARGES AGAINST THREE OF THE ARRESTEES FROM THE RAID AT 310 YANCEY LANE ON DECEMBER 6, 2018. THE THREE DEFENDANTS ARE IN FEDERAL CUSTODY. THEY ARE:
RUFUS KENNY WILLIAMS, AGE 46, 310 YANCEY LANE
CHRIS WILLIAMS, AGE 58, 310 YANCEY LANE
MAURIO ANTWON SOLOMAN, AGE 39, 310 YANCEY LANE
THE VANCE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO FIGHTING NARCOTICS SALES AND VIOLENT CRIME AND WORKING WITH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsresize_0000s_0081_vancesheriff.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-12-21 17:01:262018-12-21 17:01:26Federal Charges Adopted Against Three Arrestees From Yancey Lane Raid
Robert Burton was arrested and charged with the break-in that occurred at Clark’s Grocery on Vicksboro Road Monday night/Tuesday morning.
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office thanks everyone who shared our post and who provided information.
Robert Burton was arrested and charged with the break-in that occurred at Clark’s Grocery on Vicksboro Road the evening of Dec. 17/morning of Dec. 18.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsresize_0000s_0081_vancesheriff.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-12-20 16:57:112018-12-20 16:57:11Burton Arrested for Break-In at Clark’s Grocery on Vicksboro Rd.
