DUPLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SUSPECT VEHICLE Breaking & Entering at 542 Chicken Neck Road Teachey, North Carolina on August 30, 2017 Believed to be a red in color 2012-2013 Hyundai Sonata 4 door If you have any information please contact: Duplin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division Detective C. Beringer 910-441-9506 or 910-296-2150

Information is still needed in this case. A $5,000 reward will be given to the person with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this murder! Please contact the Duplin County Sheriff's Office if you have any information at 910-296-2150. **** $5,000 REWARD OFFERED**** The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office is offering a reward of $5,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for the murder of Leslie Donnell Pittman, also known as, Les. The incident happened between 9/28/16 and 9/29/16 at 241 Cole Swamp Road, Chinquapin, NC. Pittman was last seen on September 28, 2016 around 9:45 p.m. at Buck’s Corner in Chinquapin. If you have any information, please contact Detective Susan Holland at the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office at 910-296-2150.

On September 6, 2017, the James Kenan High School Principal received an anonymous tip from a concerned parent that a student, Floyd Tolbert, had a firearm on school grounds. After learning this information, the school staff took expedient procedures and notified the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office. The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation with the developing information. A search of the student’s vehicle revealed a 9mm rifle in the trunk compartment and ammunition was also found in the center console of the vehicle. Floyd Tolbert, 18 years old, was charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds and served outstanding warrants for misdemeanor larceny and providing fictitious information to an officer. Floyd Tolbert was placed in the Duplin County Jail under a $4,500.00 secured bond.

August 25, 2017 The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of Raleigh, The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office responded to a location in the Beautancus area of Duplin County. In a joint effort between the three agencies, a search warrant was executed at the residence and property of 713 Maysville School Road in Mt. Olive NC after receiving information on what appeared to be an intensive drug trafficking organization. Upon arriving to that location, the residence is described as a double wide mobile home located approximately 294 yards off the roadway behind a large corn field with a tractor trailer backed in at the rear of the residence. When agents approached the home, two Hispanic males were outside with one near the rear tires of the trailer which showed signs of possible tampering. Two other Hispanic males were located inside the residence and were asked to come to door as officers secured the residence. Through the course of interviews with all four male subjects, agents were able to determine the owner of the residence and obtained written permission to search for illegal contraband such as illegal narcotics, tools to be used to press or hide a compartment, large amounts of money accumulated from the sale of illegal narcotics, weapons and any other items that may be used in drug trafficking. After a walk-through of the residence, agents observed what appeared to be a large amount of US currency in two of the bedrooms. A Wayne County K-9 was called to the scene to further the search. After several alerts on the trailer and inside the residence, a search warrant was applied for and obtained and executed. The findings of that warrant yielded what appeared to be one and a half kilos of suspected powder cocaine and a large amount of US currency located in three of the axles on the trailer and from inside the residence. All four subjects were taken into custody without incident. Victor Valenzuela Rojas of 713 Maysville School Road, Mt. Olive in Duplin County was charged with two counts of Trafficking in Powder Cocaine, Possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver Powder Cocaine, Maintaining a dwelling place to keep a controlled substance, conspire to traffic in Powder Cocaine. Victor Valenzuela Rojas was placed in the Duplin County Jail under a $235,000.00 secure bond. Juan Francisco Hernandez-Garcia of 405 Croydon Place, Laredo, Texas was charged with two counts of Trafficking in Powder Cocaine, Possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver Powder Cocaine, Maintaining a dwelling place to keep a controlled substance, conspire to traffic in Powder Cocaine. Victor Valenzuela Rojas was placed in the Duplin County Jail under a $235,000.00 secure bond. Luis Angle Hernandez of 1815 London Lane Apt. 510, Arlington, Texas was charged with two counts of Trafficking in Powder Cocaine, Possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver Powder Cocaine, Maintaining a dwelling place to keep a controlled substance, conspire to traffic in Powder Cocaine. Victor Valenzuela Rojas was placed in the Duplin County Jail under a $235,000.00 secure bond. Eleazar Pena of 113 Broadcrest Dr., Laredo, Texas was charged with two counts of Trafficking in Powder Cocaine, Possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver Powder Cocaine, Maintaining a dwelling place to keep a controlled substance, conspire to traffic in Powder Cocaine. Victor Valenzuela Rojas was placed in the Duplin County Jail under a $235,000.00 secure bond.

August 30, 2017 Operation FALL HARVEST was conducted by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Beulaville Police Department, Wallace Police Department, Rose Hill Police Department, Magnolia Police Department, Warsaw Police Department, and the State Bureau of Investigation. This investigation was conducted by utilizing undercover officers to purchase illegal controlled substances. This investigation was centered on drug dealers selling in the Duplin County area. Over a short period of time, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division purchased substances ranging from crack cocaine, powder cocaine, methamphetamine (ICE), pills, marijuana, and heroin from a large number of dealers. Twenty nine (29) individuals have been charged in the first phase of this investigation. It is anticipated that additional charges will be filed from this investigation and a similar number of people will be picked up in the coming months. Kevin Smith, Jr., Chicken Neck Road, Teachey, NC Noah Keith Carter, Rivenbark Town Road, Wallace, NC Travis Graham Foy, Englishtown Road, Wallace, NC Qualean Emanuel Kenan, Ethel Boney Lane, Wallace, NC Everette Glenn King, Sarecta Road, Pink Hill, NC Corey Dale Geller, Quail Lane, Richlands, NC James Dylan Norris, South NC 111 Hwy., Chinquapin, NC Johnson Drake Henderson, Henderson Lane, Wallace, NC Hunter Michael Bryan, Herring Family Road, Kinston, NC Holden Parker Quinn, Fountaintown Road, Beulaville, NC Kevin Lamonte White, Willie Hatcher Road, Chinquapin, NC Justin Lee Maready, South NC 111 Hwy., Chinquapin, NC Brady Alexander Hernandez, Fountaintown Road, Chinquapin Montico Evans, Liberty Lane, Warsaw, NC Jesse Wendell Herring, Garfield Street, Warsaw, NC John Henry Winston, III, First Baptist Church Lane, Warsaw, NC Johnny Ray Morrisey, Sam Miller Road, Warsaw, NC

MISSING PERSON Ronnie Leon Brooks, Sr. Date of Birth 07/19/1963 Last seen leaving his residence on 113 Grady Smith Road, Pink Hill, NC 28572 On 07/21/2017 Subject left the residence on a white in color 1999 Ford F-250 Truck License Tag EEJ 2195 Contact the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office at 910-296-2150 if you have any information.

After reading a recent letter sent to the Duplin Times by Mr. Jeffrey Carr, I would like to clarify the actions taken by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office concerning the investigation of the allegations made by Mr. Carr. In March of 2017, Mr. Carr came to the Sheriff’s Office with his seven year old son to report the alleged sexual assaults of his son that reportedly occurred at school and on a school bus. Investigators immediately began an investigation with the cooperation and assistance of the Duplin County Board of Education that included interviewing multiple individuals and reviewing video footage taken from the school and the school bus. Further, detectives received medical records of the alleged victim after he was examined by a doctor. There was absolutely no physical, verbal or circumstantial evidence to support these allegations. At the completion of the investigation, the lead investigator met with an assistant district attorney who typically prosecutes these types of cases for the District Attorney’s Office. The assistant district attorney found no basis for criminal charges and the case was subsequently closed. The lead investigator contacted Mr. Carr and informed him of his findings and offered to meet with Mr. Carr to discuss the investigation and Mr. Carr declined that offer. The Duplin County Sheriff’s Offices takes very serious allegations of this nature and we investigate these types of allegations with every resource at our disposal. At the completion of an investigation we are required by law to act on the facts and in this case there were no facts to support the allegations made by Mr. Carr. Sheriff Blake Wallace

ATTENTION Duplin County is currently having issues with road signs being removed or stolen. Please know that it is a criminal offense to deface, detach or remove county property. Removal of signs is also a hazard to drivers. If you see this happening or know of a road sign that has been removed, please notify Duplin County Communications at 910-296-2169 or the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office at 910-296-2150.

MISSING PERSON MARVIN RICARDO GUERRA CONTRERAS (Goes by the name of Ricardo) Date of Birth 07/09/1974 Last seen leaving his residence on 139 Sandlin Road, Beulaville, NC on 05/27/2017. Subject left the residence on a tan in color bicycle. Contact the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office at 910-296-2150 if you have any information.

Operation RED DAWN was conducted on May 24, 2017 by the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Beulaville Police Department, Wallace Police Department, Rose Hill Police Department, Warsaw Police Department, State Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security. This investigation was conducted by utilizing undercover officers to purchase illegal controlled substances. This investigation was centered on drug dealers selling in the Duplin County area. Over a six month period of time, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division purchased substances ranging from crack cocaine, powder cocaine, methamphetamine (ICE), pills, marijuana, and heroin from a large number of dealers. Thirty two (32) individuals have been charged in the first phase of this investigation. It is anticipated that additional charges will be filed from this investigation and a similar number of people will be picked up in the coming months. Michael Stuart Phillips Luis Boykin Lane Wallace 1 count of sell crack cocaine 1 count of PWIMSD crack cocaine 1 count deliver crack cocaine Marcus Jerome Parker Rock Road Wallace 2 counts of sell cocaine/marijuana 2 counts manufacture cocaine/marijuana 2 counts of PWIMSD cocaine/marijuana Tyree McMillon Deep Bottom Road Wallace 1 count of sell of heroin 1 count of deliver of heroin 1 count of PWISDM of heroin Marshal Ray Scarborough George Dunn Sholar Road Wallace 1 count of sell of crack cocaine 1 count of deliver of crack cocaine 1 count of maintaining a vehicle 1 count of PWIMSD crack cocaine Nicholas DeShawn Williams Jimmy Tate Williams Road Beulaville 1 count of sell of marijuana 1 count of deliver of marijuana 1 count of manufacture marijuana 1 count of PWISDM of marijuana Hailee Patience Thompson East NC 24 Highway Beulaville 2 counts of sell of marijuana 2 counts of deliver of marijuana 2 counts of PWIMSD of marijuana 2 counts of manufacture marijuana 2 counts of conspiracy to sell 2 counts of maintaining a dwelling Jesus Alejandro Garcia Brinson Street Beulaville 2 counts trafficking by sell of methamphetamine 2 counts trafficking by deliver of methamphetamine 2 counts trafficking by transport of methamphetamine 2 counts trafficking by maintaining a vehicle 1 count of conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine Robert Mathis West Robertson Street Beulaville 1 count of sell/deliver marijuana 1 count of PWIMSD marijuana 1 count manufacture of marijuana Darlene Cynthia Smith West Robertson Street Beulaville 1 count of sell of marijuana 1 count of delivery of marijuana 1 count maintaining a dwelling to see 1 count manufacture of marijuana 1 count of PWISDM of marijuana Ronda Alexander West Robertson Street Beulaville 1 count of ell of crack cocaine 1 count of deliver crack cocaine 1 count of PWIMSD crack cocaine Antonio Jamont Chasten Chasten Street Beulaville 2 counts of sell of crack cocaine 2 counts of deliver of crack cocaine 2 counts of PWISDM of crack cocaine Christopher Allen Carr Cedar Lane Drive Beulaville 2 counts of sell of crack cocaine 2 counts of deliver of crack cocaine 2 counts of PWISDM of crack cocaine 2 counts of maintaining a dwelling Shantel Elaina Farland South Evans Street Beulaville 1 count of sell of pills Schedule II 1 count or deliver of pills Schedule II 1 count of PWISD of pills Schedule II 1 count of maintaining of Dwelling Schedule II Tevin Jarrell Newkirk John Hall Farm Lane Beulaville 2 counts of sell of marijuana 2 counts of PWISDM marijuana 2 counts of delivery of marijuana 2 counts of manufacture of marijuana William Earl Humphrey Beulaville 1 count of sell of marijuana 1 count of delivery of marijuana 1 count of PWIMSD marijuana Jeremiah Gregory McKiver Creekside Drive Deep Run 2 counts of sell marijuana/pills Schedule II 2 counts of delivery of marijuana/pills Schedule II 2 counts of manufacture/pills Schedule II Edgar Velazquez Perry Blizzard Road Deep Run 2 counts trafficking by sell of methamphetamine 2 counts trafficking by delivery of methamphetamine 2 counts trafficking by transport of methamphetamine 2 counts trafficking by maintaining a vehicle 1 count of conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine Melinda Hall Wagon Ford Road Pink Hill 1 count conspiracy sell suboxone patches Schedule III 1 count PWISD suboxone patches Schedule III 1 count sell of suboxone patches Schedule III 1 count deliver of suboxone patches Schedule III Patrick Jones Wagon Ford Road Pink Hill 1 count conspiracy to sell/maintain vehicle David Cameron Davis Weston Road Pink Hill 1 count of sell of marijuana 1 count of delivery of marijuana 1 count of manufacture of marijuana 1 count of maintaining a vehicle 1 count PWISDM of marijuana Kevin Hall S. Williams Road Beulaville 3 counts of sell of methamphetamine (ICE) marijuana 3 counts of delivery of methamphetamine (ICE) marijuana 4 counts of PWITSD methamphetamine (ICE) marijuana 4 counts of maintaining a vehicle and premises 1 count traffic by possession 3 counts of manufacture of methamphetamine (ICE) marijuana Tony Anthony Outlaw, Jr. East Washington Street LaGrange 1 count of sell of crack cocaine 1 count of maintaining a dwelling 1 count of delivery of crack cocaine Ashley Simpson Frances Street/Village Drive Jacksonville 1 count of conspiracy to sell marijuana Arturo Borges-Avalos Daisy Street Jacksonville 1 count of sell of marijuana 1 count of delivery of marijuana 1 count of manufacture of marijuana 1 count of PWISDM of marijuana Ronnie Gene Brinson Brinson Road Magnolia 1 count of trafficking by sell of pills 1 count of PWISDM of pills 1 count of trafficking by delivery of pills 1 count of maintaining pills 1 count of trafficking by manufacture of pills Angeles Scott James North Carlton Street Magnolia 1 count of sell of marijuana 1 count of delivery of marijuana 1 count of PWISD of marijuana 1 count of manufacture of marijuana Dellas Green Quail Hollow Drive/ West Garfield Street Warsaw 1 count sell of crack cocaine 1 count of delivery of crack cocaine 1 count of manufacture of crack cocaine 1 count of PWISDM of crack cocaine Jessie James Faison, III South Pine Street Warsaw 1 count of sell of crack cocaine 1 count or delivery of crack cocaine 1 count of manufacture of crack cocaine 1 count of PWISDM of crack cocaine Dorothy Dean Parker South Pine Street Warsaw 1 count of trafficking sell of pills 1 count of PWISDM of pills 1 count of trafficking deliver pills 1 count trafficking by manufacture of pills 1 count of trafficking by possession Hector Garcia Martinez West Bay Street Warsaw 1 count of sell marijuana 1 count of deliver marijuana 1 count of manufacture of marijuana 1 count of PWISDM of marijuana Robert Sterling Walker Summerlins Crossroads Rd. Mount Olive 1 count of sell marijuana 1 count of deliver marijuana 1 count of manufacture of marijuana 1 count of PWISDM of marijuana Richard Murillo Castaneda Richard Dupree Lane Seven Springs 1 count of sell marijuana 1 count of deliver of marijuana 1 count of PWISDM of marijuana 1 count of manufacture of marijuana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BY SHERIFF BLAKE WALLACE MAY 8, 2017 The Duplin County Sheriff’s Office is seeking your help in locating Javier Gomez (aka) Humberto Gomez Chavez. Mr. Gomez is a 47 year old (Date of Birth 03/24/1970) Hispanic male who was last seen leaving Plantation Drive in Warsaw, North Carolina on Saturday, April 22, 2017. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office at 910-296-2150.