ReportWire

Tag: APP Public Safety

  • Jury reaches verdict in Connor Grubb trial

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — A jury found Connor Grubb, the Blendon Township Police officer who shot and killed a 21-year-old pregnant woman in a grocery store parking lot, not guilty on all charges on Friday.

    Connor Grubb was initially charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault in the death of Ta’Kiya Young and the unborn girl due three months later. 

    Grubb and the fellow officer from the Blendon Township force had approached Young’s car on Aug. 24, 2023, about a report she was suspected of stealing alcohol from a grocery store in suburban Columbus. She partially lowered her window, and the other officer ordered her out. Instead, she rolled her car forward toward Grubb, who fired a single bullet through her windshield into her chest, video footage showed.

    Body camera footage showed Connor Grubb shooting Young as he stood in front of her car, which started moving. During closing arguments, prosecutors argued that the body camera video showed Young turning her steering wheel away from Grubb, claiming that she was trying not to hit him. 

    Young was suspected of stealing hundreds of dollars worth of alcohol, but prosecutors argue that doesn’t justify a fatal shooting. 

    Meanwhile, the defense said their witnesses proved that Grubb’s actions that day were legal and reasonable. They said Grubb acted in self-defense and was in fear of being run over by Young. The defense asked the jury to put their sympathy for Young’s death aside and focus on the law when making their decision.

    The defense also asked twice for a mistrial, leading to a heated argument between them and the prosecutors. Ultimately, the judge denied that request. 

    The Associated Press and Anchor/Reporter Emani Payne contributed to this story. 

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    Lydia Taylor

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  • Deputy killed, 2 others injured in shooting while serving eviction in Vero Beach

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    INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — Two sheriff’s deputies have been shot, and one killed while serving an eviction notice Friday in Vero Beach.

    What You Need To Know

    • Two sheriff’s deputies have been shot, and one killed while serving an eviction notice Friday in Vero Beach

    • The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said that during the eviction, a suspect pulled out a gun and started firing as deputies entered the home

    • Officials identified the deputy that was killed as Terri Sweeting Mashkow

    The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said that during the eviction, a suspect pulled out a gun and started firing as deputies entered the home.

    Officials identified the deputy that was killed as Terri Sweeting Mashkow. She was honored in the office’s quarterly report in 2023 for helping a local family during the Christmas holiday. 

    Deputies responded to the shooting Friday. (Spectrum News)

    “She is dedicated to serving her community and exemplifies what the role of a Peace Officer should be,” the report said.

    One other deputy and a locksmith were injured. The suspect is in custody and is in critical condition.

    This marks the second death in the line of duty for the department since its creation 100 years ago, according to a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office.

    The Melbourne Police Department reacted to the news in a statement. 

    “Our hearts are with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office and the entire community this morning. We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting that took the life of one deputy and injured several others. Our prayers are with their families, their fellow deputies, and everyone impacted by this loss.”

    The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office also reacted in the following statement. 

    “Sending condolences and prayers to Indian River County, where one deputy was fatally shot and two others were wounded while serving an eviction notice this morning. Praying that the family members and loved ones facing the worst news today can find the strength they will need to carry through another senseless tragedy.”

    Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey also responded. 

    “Please keep the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office and their entire community in your thoughts and prayers as their agency is dealing with a critical incident involving a Deputy Sheriff, who was shot and killed earlier this morning and a second Deputy that was shot and is in stable condition!!

    In response to the incident, our agency has sent various resources including Deputy Sheriffs and Supervisors to assist with responding to calls for service from the community, as their agency is focused on the critical incident!!

    Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line each and every day, as they work to protect their communities and our hearts go out to Sheriff Flowers, his entire agency, and their entire community!!”

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • 20 people displaced after 3-alarm fire destroys Charlotte apartment complex

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    Twenty people lost their homes overnight Thursday as a 3-alarm fire ripped through a Charlotte apartment complex, fire officials said.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The fire started around 3 a.m. Thursday at an apartment complex on Branch Way Court in Charlotte, N.C.

    •  Officials said the fire was accidental and started from improperly discarded smoking materials on an exterior second-floor balcony

    •  No injuries were reported

    • Officials said 12 units were affected, 20 people were displaced and damaged estimates are around $1.6 million


    The fire happened just before 3 a.m. on Branch Way Court. When crews arrived, Charlotte Fire Department said the fire had already extended into the attic space after burning through the second and third floors of the three-story complex.

    By 3:13 a.m., crews requested a third-alarm due to “the amount of fire and the structural concern from falling debris,” officials said.


    Fire crews were able to safely evacuate residents, officials said, and brought the fire under control shortly before 4 a.m.

    No injuries were reported.

    Officials say 12 apartment units were affected by the fire, and 20 residents were displaced. Damages have been estimated around $1.6 million.

    The fire was caused by “improperly discarded smoking materials on an exterior second-floor balcony,” investigators said, and has been ruled accidental.

    Charlotte Fire is reminding residents to properly dispose of cigarettes, cigars and other smoking products. These items should never be placed in planters, mulch beds, or on balconies, officials said.

    Instead, use a deep, sturdy, non-combustible container filled with sand or water and ensure the material is fully out before disposal. “This simple step can prevent devastating fires and protect lives,” Charlotte Fire said in a post on X.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    [ad_2] Justin Pryor
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  • Eden dump truck driver indicted on murder charges in utility workers’ deaths

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    The driver of a dump truck that crashed into a crew of utility workers in Eden, North Carolina, earlier this year has been indicted on murder charges, court records show.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Authorities said Michael Vernon was driving a dump truck on April 24 when he crashed into a crew of utility workers in Eden, N.C.

    •  Four of the linemen were killed, two were seriously injured and a third suffered minor injuries

    •  On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Vernon was indicted on multiple counts of second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury


    Michael Ray Vernon, 66, is charged with four counts of second-degree murder and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

    The indictments were issued Tuesday afternoon, according to records.

    The murder charges are related to the deaths of Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield; Madison Carter, 32, of Sandy Ridge; William Evans, 35, of Randleman; and Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem, all of whom died at the scene.

    The assault charges are connected to three linemen who were injured, two seriously, during the crash.

    On Thursday, April 24, Vernon failed to stop on Carroll Street at the intersection with Church Street and Park Road and hit the workers, who were conducting power line work, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

    Vernon also hit a bucket truck before stopping in a ditch.

    A week after the incident, the city of Eden announced that Vernon and Public Works Operations Superintendent Elmer “Dusty” Curry had been fired and Public Works Operations Manager Darren Gatewood had announced his retirement.

    Vernon was initially charged with a stop sign violation and several counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, according to court records. Those charges were dismissed following Tuesday’s indictments.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Medicaid providers indicted for allegedly stealing over $530K

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    OHIO — Attorney General Dave Yost, R-Ohio, announced Tuesday that nine Medicaid providers are facing charges for allegedly stealing a combined $530,888.

    “Cheating Medicaid earns you nothing but a court date and a criminal record,” Yost said. “We’re working hard for Ohioans to recover ill-gotten gains and bring fraudsters to justice.”

    Yost said the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the cases, and it has secured indictments in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

    The individuals indicted include:

    • Monica Dean, 46, of Cleveland for a $45,205 loss to Medicaid.
    • Mustafa Issa, 34, and his wife, Ayshia Mustapha, 28, for a $344,602 loss to Medicaid.
    • Andrea Johnson, 53, of South Charleston for a $22,886 loss to Medicaid.
    • Mary Moore, 52, of Cincinnati for a $2,896 loss to Medicaid.
    • Elizabeth Nawrot, 38, of Uhrichsville for a $5,337 loss to Medicaid.
    • Tiara Portis, 32, of Akron for a $36,380 loss to Medicaid.
    • Alayjah Terrell, 29, of Cleveland for a $63,471 loss to Medicaid.
    • Gerri Toney, 59, of West Union for a $10,111 loss to Medicaid.

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    Lydia Taylor

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  • Former Marine sniper accused of mass shooting and warning signs that came before

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    Estranged friends and family and even a judge had raised concerns months before authorities say a wounded Iraq War veteran killed three people and injured five at a North Carolina waterfront bar.

    What You Need To Know

    • Estranged friends and family and even a judge had raised concerns months before authorities say a wounded Iraq War veteran killed three people and injured five at a North Carolina waterfront bar.

    • A former friend got a no-contact order against Nigel Max Edge, saying he feared for his safety and describing the former Marine sniper as armed and “mentally unstable”

    • Several people told The Associated Press they inquired about having Edge involuntarily committed for psychiatric evaluation but believed they lacked standing

    • Edge has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder but the case has been postponed to January


    Marc Simmons hadn’t heard from his estranged friend in nearly seven years. Then, Nigel Max Edge showed up at his work and falsely accused Simmons of stealing his identity.

    They met taking community college classes and bonded over their time with the Marines in Iraq. Simmons’ kids once called Edge “Uncle Sean” — back when his name was still Sean William DeBevoise.

    Simmons was now terrified his old friend would retaliate against him, he told a judge.

    “The defendant, Nigel Edge, is mentally unstable,” Simmons said in a handwritten request for a protective order. “Always has a pistol on him, on high doses of medications that cause defendant to be anxious.”

    That was back in May, four months before authorities say Edge, a former Marine sniper, guided a motorboat up to a crowded Cape Fear River bar in Southport, North Carolina, and opened fire with an AR-style rifle, killing three and wounding five.

    Edge, 41, is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder and has been in jail without bond since the Sept. 27 shooting at the American Fish Company. A November hearing to determine next steps in the case was pushed to January.

    Prosecutors and Edge’s attorney did not respond to questions about why the case was postponed.

    Options to intervene

    Following the shooting, police recovered two handguns and a short-barreled rifle from Edge’s car and boat. At his home, they found two more rifles and pistols, including one with a silencer.

    Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said North Carolina needed to join the 21 states that have “red flag laws,” which allow authorities to temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed a threat. But there was another legal option.

    It’s unclear whether anyone petitioned a magistrate to involuntarily commit Edge to a psychiatric facility for evaluation because the records are not public. But anyone could have, not just close family and friends, said Mark F. Botts, a University of North Carolina School of Government associate professor.

    “It seems like he was estranged from the very people that would normally intervene,” Botts said.

    Rachel Crowl feels there’s a lot of blame to go around, from his family, to the government, even herself.

    “We failed him, as a whole,” she said.

    Struggling to understand

    In this undated photo provided by Rachel Crowl, Nigel Max Edge, then known as Sean DeBevoise, lies in a hospital bed next to his wife, Rachel Crowl, in Tampa, Fla. (Rachel Crowl, via AP)

    Edge joined the Marines right after high school, eventually rising to the elite recon sniper corps. He was shot four times in 2006 on his second deployment to Iraq. The wounds led to his medical retirement in 2009.

    When he returned from Iraq, a large chunk of his skull missing and an insurgent’s bullet still lodged in his brain, Marine Sgt. Sean DeBevoise — as he was then known — still seemed to have a firm grip on reality, Crowl said.

    Crowl, who fell in love at 14 with the blond, blue-eyed wrestler when he came to her New York middle school for a match, said his description of how he was wounded in Iraq matched his comrades’ version of events; he loved his family, and they loved him.

    Then he began patrolling the house with a rifle and sleeping with a loaded pistol under his pillow. Separate bedrooms led to estrangement, then, ultimately, divorce.

    When Crowl last saw him, 10 years ago on a Wrightsville Beach pier, “it was heartbreaking,” she said.

    “He looked me straight in my face and told me a completely different story,” she said. “Basically, how I hired the platoon to kill him, and the friendly fire. And did I know they buried him and peed on him? And why would I do this? And then asked me about if I remember us being sex trafficked when we were in high school, and told me his parents had kidnapped him and weren’t his parents.”

    Those are the stories he told in “Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation,” the book he self-published in 2020. Three years later, he legally changed his name, saying there are “events in my life that I don’t understand” and that he did “not trust my family.”

    Doubts about how to help

    Crowl said she didn’t hear from Edge again until May, when the man she’d nursed, bathed and fed filed a federal lawsuit against her, Simmons, an ex-girlfriend and a former Marine from his first Iraq deployment. It alleged they were all part of a “Civil Conspiracy” to sexually traffic and kill him, or to make him kill himself.

    Edge filed lawsuit after lawsuit against friends, family, doctors, hospitals, the Department of Veterans Affairs, even a church. Crowl and others said they thought authorities would get him the mental health care they felt he clearly needed.

    “Plaintiff suffers from war injuries and he suffers from delusions” and post-traumatic stress disorder, his mother, Sandra DeBevoise, wrote in a legal response last December, after he sued her and her husband. “The VA needs to take care of him!!!”

    The VA declined to comment, citing medical privacy laws.

    The legal onslaught became so bad that a judge in Brunswick County moved to restrict Edge from filing lawsuits without court approval.

    Several people told The Associated Press they believed they lacked standing to file a commitment petition because they were not close relatives.

    And the state Department of Health and Human Services cautions that this is “a last resort.”

    “A person like this just falls through the cracks,” Botts said.

    In June, a judge ordered Edge to stay away from Simmons. Simmons told AP he did not want to talk about his former friend.

    Behind bars, Edge hasn’t been idle.

    About three weeks after the shooting, he filed a handwritten notice of appeal after a federal judge dismissed his civil rights lawsuit against the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice, several local law enforcement agencies and a charity that helps veterans.

    On lined notebook paper, he wrote, without further context: “Recent events, ‘Self defense’ against ‘White Supremacist Pedophiles’ directly related to this case.”

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Immigration enforcement arrests begins in Charlotte, officials confirm

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    Federal officials confirmed Saturday that a surge of immigration enforcement in North Carolina’s largest city has begun, as agents were seen making arrests in multiple locations.

    “Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”

    What You Need To Know

    •  Federal immigration agents began a large enforcement action in Charlotte Saturday

    •  Agents made several arrests, including in front of news crews as the operation began

    •  The Border Patrol operation was met by protests in the Queen City

    •  Immigration officials said they made 81 arrests in Charlotte on Saturday


    Local officials including Mayor Vi Lyles criticized such actions, saying in a statement that they “are causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty.”

    “We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to know we stand with all residents who simply want to go about their lives,” the statement said. It was also signed by Mecklenburg County Commissioner Mark Jerrell and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board member Stephanie Sneed.

    There were several protests in the Queen City Saturday and more protests are planned in Raleigh and Charlotte Sunday.

    Federal agents arrested 81 people Saturday, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said in X Sunday morning. 

    Crime is down in the city this year through August, compared with the same months in 2024. Homicides, rapes, robberies and motor vehicle thefts fell by more than 20%, according to AH Datalytics.

    But President Donald Trump’s administration has seized upon the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light-rail train to argue that Democratic-led cities fail to protect residents. A man with a lengthy criminal record has been charged with the woman’s murder.

    Enforcement begins after rumors

    The federal government had not previously announced the push. But County Sheriff Garry McFadden said this week that two federal officials told him Customs agents would be arriving soon.

    Charlotte is a racially diverse city of more than 900,000 residents, including more than 150,000 who are foreign-born, according to local officials.

    Willy Aceituno, a 46-year-old Honduran-born U.S. citizen, was on his way to work Saturday when he saw “a lot of Latinos running,” chased by “a lot of Border Patrol agents.”

    Aceituno said he himself was stopped — twice — by Border Patrol agents. During the second encounter, they forced him from his vehicle after breaking the window and threw him to the ground.

    “I told them, ‘I’m an American citizen,’” he told The Associated Press. “They wanted to know where I was born, or they didn’t believe I was an American citizen.”

    After being forcibly taken into a Border Patrol vehicle, Aceituno said, he was finally released after showing documents proving his citizenship. He had to walk some distance back to his car and later filed a police report over the broken glass.

     

    Spokesperson Paola Garcia of Camino, a bilingual nonprofit serving families in Charlotte, said she and her colleagues have observed an increase in stops by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents since Friday.

    “Basically what we’re seeing is that there have been lots of people being pulled over,” Garcia said.

    Greg Asciutto, executive director of the community development group CharlotteEast, said via email that the “significant border patrol activity” was seen Saturday.

    “Most have been extremely quick, targeted arrests; others have been them ‘fishing,’” Asciutto said.

    An encounter in a front yard

    In east Charlotte, two workers were hanging Christmas lights in Rheba Hamilton’s front yard in the morning when two Customs and Border Patrol agents walked up. One tried to speak to the workers in Spanish, she said. They did not respond, and the agents left without making arrests.

    “This is real disconcerting, but the main thing is we’ve got two human beings in my yard trying to make a living. They’ve broken no laws, and that’s what concerns me,” said Hamilton, who recorded the encounter on her cellphone.

    “It’s an abuse of all of our laws. It is unlike anything I have ever imagined I would see in my lifetime,” the 73-year-old said.

    Amid reports of the crackdown, she had suggested the work be postponed. But the contractor decided to go ahead.

    “Half an hour later, he’s in our yard, he’s working and Border Patrol rolls up,” she said. “They’re here because they were looking for easy pickings. There was nobody here with TV cameras, nobody here protesting, there’s just two guys working in a yard and an old white lady with white hair sitting on her porch drinking her coffee.”

    Some businesses close

    JD Mazuera Arias, who was elected to the City Council in September, was among a group standing watch outside a Latin American bakery in his east Charlotte district.

    Another bakery nearby closed for fear of the crackdown, he said, showing the harm to livelihoods and the economy.

    “This is Customs and Border Patrol. We are not a border city, nor are we a border state. So why are they here?” he said. “This is a gross violation of constitutional rights for not only immigrants but for U.S. citizens.”

    Asciutto said many businesses in his part of town were closed and “We’re brainstorming ways to keep them afloat, as we don’t know how long this is going to last.”

    The Trump administration has defended unprecedented federal enforcement operations in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago as necessary for fighting crime and enforcing immigration laws.

    Some in North Carolina welcomed the blitz. Mecklenburg County Republican Party Chairman Kyle Kirby said Democratic officials “have abandoned their duty to uphold law and order” and are “demonizing the brave men and women of federal law enforcement.”

    “Let us be clear: President Trump was given a mandate in the 2024 election to secure our borders,” Kirby said in a statement. “Individuals who are in this country legally have nothing to fear.”

    But several hundred people protested Saturday in a Charlotte park.

    Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said the previous day that the vast majority of people detained in such operations have no criminal convictions, and some are citizens. He urged people to record any “inappropriate behavior” and notify local law enforcement.

    The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has emphasized that it is not involved in federal immigration enforcement.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Border Patrol official says dozens arrested in N.C. enforcement surge

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    A top Border Patrol commander touted dozens of arrests in North Carolina’s largest city on Sunday as Charlotte residents reported encounters with federal immigration agents near churches, apartment complexes and stores.

    The Trump administration has made the Democratic city of about 950,000 people its latest target for an immigration enforcement surge it says will combat crime, despite fierce objections from local leaders and downtrending crime rates.

    Gregory Bovino, who led hundreds of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in a similar effort in Chicago, took to X to document a few of the more than 80 arrests he said agents had made. He also posted a highly-edited video of uniformed CBP officers handcuffing people.

    “From border towns to the Queen City, our agents go where the mission calls,” he posted on X, referring to Charlotte.

    The effort was dubbed “Operation Charlotte’s Web” as a play on the title of a famous children’s book that isn’t about North Carolina.

    Some welcomed the intervention, including Mecklenburg County Republican Party Chairman Kyle Kirby, who said in a post Saturday that the county GOP “stands with the rule of law — and with every Charlottean’s safety first.”

    Fear and many questions

    The flurry of activity prompted fear and questions, including where detainees would be held, how long the operation would last and what agents’ tactics — criticized elsewhere as aggressive and racist — would look like in North Carolina. On Saturday, at least one U.S. citizen said he was thrown to the ground and briefly detained.

    At Camino, a nonprofit group that offers services to Latino communities, some said they were too afraid to leave their homes to attend school, medical appointments or work. A dental clinic the group runs had nine cancellations on Friday, spokesperson Paola Garcia said.

    “Latinos love this country. They came here to escape socialism and communism, and they’re hard workers and people of faith,” Garcia said. “They love their family, and it’s just so sad to see that this community now has this target on their back.”

    Bovino’s operations in Chicago and Los Angeles triggered lawsuits over the use of force, including widespread deployment of chemical agents. Democratic leaders in both cities accused agents of inflaming community tensions. Federal agents fatally shot one suburban Chicago man during a traffic stop.

    Bovino, head of a Border Patrol sector in El Centro, California, and other Trump administration officials have called their tactics appropriate for growing threats on agents.

     

    Bovino posted pictures Sunday of people the Trump administration commonly dubs “criminal illegal aliens,” meaning people living in the U.S. without legal permission who allegedly have criminal records. That included one of a man with an alleged history of drunk driving convictions.

    “We arrested him, taking him off the streets of Charlotte so he can’t continue to ignore our laws and drive intoxicated on the same roads you and your loved ones are on,” Bovino said.

    Residents report activity at churches and apartment complexes

    The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, did not respond to inquiries about the Charlotte arrests. Bovino’s spokesman did not return a request for comment Sunday.

    Elsewhere, DHS has not offered many details about its arrests. In the Chicago area, the agency only provided names and details on a handful of its more than 3,000 arrests in the region from September to last week. U.S. citizens were detained during several operations. Dozens of protesters were arrested.

    By Sunday, reports of CBP activity around Charlotte were “overwhelming” and difficult to quantify, Greg Asciutto, executive director of the community development group CharlotteEast, said in an email.

    “The past two hours we’ve received countless reports of CBP activity at churches, apartment complexes and a hardware store,” he said.

    City council member-elect JD Mazuera Arias said federal agents appeared to be focused on churches and apartment buildings.

    “Houses of worship. I mean, that’s just awful,” he said. “These are sanctuaries for people who are looking for hope and faith in dark times like these and who no longer can feel safe because of the gross violation of people’s right to worship.”

    DHS says so-called sanctuary policy plays a role in Charlotte operation

    Two people were arrested during a small protest Sunday outside a DHS office in Charlotte and taken to a local FBI office, said Xavier T. de Janon, an attorney who was representing them. He said it remained unclear what charges they faced.

    DHS said it was focusing on North Carolina because of so-called sanctuary policies, which limit cooperation between local authorities and immigration agents.

    Several county jails house immigrant arrestees and honor detainers, which allow jails to hold detainees for immigration officers to pick them up. But Mecklenburg County, where Charlotte is located, does not. Also, the city’s police department does not help with immigration enforcement.

    DHS alleged that about 1,400 detainers across North Carolina had not been honored, putting the public at risk.

    “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

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    Associated Press

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  • Burn ban in effect for parts of Citrus County

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — There is now a burn ban in effect for parts of Citrus County.

    That means if you live in unincorporated areas, you cannot set fire to forest areas, grasslands, wild lands, marshes, vegetation, or any land in urban or rural areas, including agricultural lands.

    You also cannot burn yard waste, household garbage, or other debris. The ban also includes campfires and bonfires.

    Residents can still use grills or use one at a park. 

    The ban will automatically lift once the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) remains below 500 for seven consecutive days.

     

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • ‘Cloak of secrecy’: Charlotte leaders in the dark about Border Patrol deployment

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    Charlotte leaders voiced their frustration with the lack of communication with federal officials about the Border Patrol’s impending deployment to the Queen City.

    What You Need To Know

    • Local and state officials in Charlotte condemned U.S. Customs and Border Patrol’s lack of transparency about its plan to come to the city 

    • Reports circulated Wednesday that federal immigration agents operating in Chicago would move to Charlotte

    • The reports were not confirmed until Thursday when Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said he received confirmation from Border Patrol personnel 
    • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools sent an email to parents Thursday night about how the school system will handle agents’ presence in the city, Board of Education member Liz Monterrey Duvall said 


    “This has just not been a transparent process overall, and none of us stand for it,” Aisha Dew, State House Representative for District 107, said Friday morning.

    There were reports Wednesday that the federal agents stationed in Chicago would move to Charlotte to continue enforcing the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.

    “This isn’t a request that came from Mecklenburg County for assistance or for help,” County Commission Chair Mark Jerrell said. “And so, we don’t understand what the plan is.”

    “Everything has been veiled in this cloak of secrecy,” he said.

    In a separate statement, Gov. Josh Stein asked people to “stand with our neighbors” and be peaceful. 

    “Public safety is the top priority for all of us in government — that means fighting crime, not stoking fear or causing division. We should all focus on and arrest violent criminals and drug traffickers. Unfortunately, that’s not always what we have seen with ICE and Border Patrol Agents in Chicago and elsewhere around the country.  The vast majority of people they have detained have no criminal convictions, and some are American citizens,” the governor said. 

    “I want to encourage North Carolinians to remember our values. We follow the law. We remain peaceful. We do not allow ourselves to be provoked. We stand with our neighbors. And when we see injustice, we bear witness. If you see any inappropriate behavior, use your phones to record and notify local law enforcement, who will continue to keep our communities safe long after these federal agents leave. That’s the North Carolina way,” Stein said.

    The Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz” in the Chicago area was announced in early September, over the objections of local leaders and after weeks of threats on the Democratic stronghold.

    It started as a handful of arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the suburbs but eventually included hundreds of Customs and Border Protection agents whose tactics grew increasingly aggressive. More than 3,200 people suspected of violating immigration laws have been arrested across Chicago and its many suburbs dipping into Indiana.

    Democrats have accused the federal agents of using unnecessary force and creating a climate of fear. 

    “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and what we have seen the border patrol and ICE agents do in places like Chicago and Los Angeles — using excessive force in their operations and tear gassing peaceful protestors — threatens the wellbeing of the communities they enter,” U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat who represents the Charlotte area, said on social media.

    A top Border Patrol leader responded Friday to Stein and Adams.

    “Immigrants rest assured, we have your back like we did in Chicago and Los Angeles,” Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino said on X. “Rep. Adams, perhaps you & Gov. STEIN should learn the difference between an illegal alien & an immigrant. Illegal aliens have NO PLACE in our communities and should self deport via CBP Home.”

    Bovino has ties to North Carolina, having completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees at universities in the state’s western mountains.

    Many of the local leaders at a press conference in Charlotte on Friday issued a statement of solidarity Wednesday addressing the rumors about the agency’s deployment that were unverified at the time.

    “More than 150,000 foreign-born residents live in our city, contributing billions to our economy and enriching every neighborhood with culture, hard work and hope,” it read, adding: “We will stand together, look out for one another, and ensure that fear never divides the city we all call home.”

    The rumors were confirmed by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office Thursday.

    “Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry L. McFadden was contacted by two separate federal officials confirming that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel will be arriving in the Charlotte area as early as this Saturday or the beginning of next week,” the sheriff’s office said in a release.

    The sheriff’s office said federal officials have not shared details of what CPB will do in the Queen City and has not asked the office for help.

    Charlotte leaders said they have already begun receiving reports of what appeared to be plainclothes officers in neighborhoods and on local transit.

    “This is some of the chaos that we also saw in Chicago,” state Sen. Caleb Theodros, who represents Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, said Thursday.

    Some of the federal operations were carried out near schools in Chicago.

    Duvall, the school board member, said that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools sent an email to parents Thursday night about how the school system will handle agents’ presence in the city.

    She said the policies and procedures have also been posted on the board’s website.

    “We have tons of resources there available to the public, and if you have any other questions, please reach out directly,” she said. 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

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    Caroline King, Associated Press

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  • Manatee County expands its Emergency Vehicle Preemption System

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — More than 100 intersections in Manatee County will undergo technology upgrades to help first responders reach emergencies faster.

    The county announced it is expanding a program called the Emergency Vehicle Preemption System. It modifies traffic signals so the lights turn green for first responders, saving crucial time in emergencies.

    What You Need To Know

    • More than 100 intersections in Manatee County will help get first responders to emergencies quicker

    • All county EMS vehicles will be fully equipped with the device

    • Manatee County says the expansion is set to be complete by the fall of 2026. Officials also say there have been no issues with traffic using this new system


    Stepping into the job of an EMT is something Chloe Millard was inspired to do.

    “I became an EMT to follow in my dad’s footsteps. He is still currently employed with the county and has been for 32 years,” she said.

    She has been an EMT since 2023, the same year Manatee County first started a pilot program using the Emergency Vehicle Preemption System. It uses technology that recognizes when first responders are approaching an intersection through a device installed in their emergency vehicle. That device automatically connects with the traffic light to turn it green.

    “I think it’s very helpful with clear roadways and intersections, and every second matters in someone’s medical emergency,” she said.

    The system was originally installed at 24 intersections, with 20 vehicles equipped with devices to change the lights. Now, the county is incorporating the technology at an additional 95 intersections, and all Manatee emergency vehicles will have preemption devices.

    “So by having that intersection change happen prior to the ambulance even getting there, we’re ensuring safety for the crew as well as safety for everyone else going through that intersection,” said Jason Evans, the district chief of operations in Manatee County EMS.

    In an emergency, every second counts, and Manatee County is committed to making sure first responders have every advantage possible.

    Manatee County says the expansion is set to be complete by the fall of 2026. Officials also say there have been no issues with traffic using this new system.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • No bond for suspect in fatal Ybor City crash

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    TAMPA, Fla. – The man accused of losing control of his speeding car and crashing into a group of Ybor City pedestrians, killing four, will not receive bond.

    In court on Thursday, Hillsborough County Chief Judge Christopher C. Sabella said there would be no bond on the four counts of vehicular homicide Silas Sampson, 22, is facing.

    Bonds of $100,000 were determined on as many of six other charges. Still, Sampson will remain behind bars while awaiting trial. 


    Sampson also was in court Wednesday, where it was announced he is now charged with three counts each of fleeing to elude causing serious bodily injury and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury. He was previously charged with vehicular homicide.

    Sampson’s family members sat in the courtroom Thursday, not far away from family members of the victims. 

    According to police, Sampson was fleeing from the Florida Highway Patrol when he got to Ybor City early Saturday. Troopers reportedly backed off because of heavy pedestrian traffic there, but TPD said Sampson kept speeding on East 7th Avenue before hitting a car, and then people outside Bradley’s.

    Family members of the victims attended Thursday’s hearing. (Spectrum News)

    Court records indicated Sampson’s car was traveling at 92 mph just seconds before the 7th Ave crash.

    The victims were identified earlier this week as: Marlon Anthony Collins, 54, of Bartow; Sherman Jones, 53, of Tampa; Lisa Sherell Johnson, 41, of Winter Haven; and Christina Maria Richards, 25. Thirteen people were injured.

    On Thursday, during the 10-minute hearing, attorneys determined bonds on the updated charges.

    No future hearing hearings on the case have been set yet.  

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Funeral to be held for Canton officer killed in accident

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    CANTON, Ohio — A celebration of life will be held for Canton Police Officer Dave Wolgamott, who died earlier this week in a car accident on his way to work.

    It will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. at New Pointe Community Church in Dover. Friends can also visit the family at the church on Monday, Nov. 17, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with FOP services starting at 4:45 p.m.

    Wolgamott, 47, graduated from Mogadore High School in 1998 before joining the U.S. Army and serving in Bosnia.

    He stayed in the Army National Guard for years afterward.

    Wolgamott had worked at the Canton Police Department for the past 19 years. He previously patrolled with the Strasburg, Bolivar and Lakemore departments. 

    According to his obituary, he is survived by his wife Crystal Pearcy Wolgamott, children Logan and Nora Wolgamott of Strasburg; stepdaughters Christina and Leia Thorne of Dover; half-brother Ben (Tori) Moneypenny of Cuyahoga Falls; half-sister Desirae (Neil) Legerski of Nevada; stepbrother Jeremy Moneypenny of Florida; stepsister, Eve (Dann) Diehl of Akron; stepparents Lisa Wolgamott and Hal Moneypenny; and his former wife, Kendra Wolgamott.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Zebulon develops new fire and EMS headquarters to keep up with growth

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    ZEBULON, N.C. — As Zebulon’s population continues to soar, the town’s fire department is preparing for the future. A new 25,000-square – foot fire and EMS headquarters will soon be developed. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Zebulon’s population has surged more than 50% since 2020

    • The new fire and EMS headquarters will span 25,000-square-foot and include modern facilities

    • Construction is expected to be complete by 2027


    For decades, the Zebulon Fire Department has worked out of its Vance Street station, built in the 1970s. But as the town continues to grow, so does the demand for emergency services.

    But in a few years, that will change. Land just beside the town hall is the future home of Zebulon’s new fire and EMS headquarters, a 25,000-square-foot facility designed to support the growing needs of a rapidly growing community.

    “As our town grows, we don’t just grow in the center, we grow out, and it expands more and more,” Fire Chief Christopher Perry explained. “So, our new station is more strategically located.”

    Currently, two fire crews operate out of the same Vance Street house, which can affect response times. Perry says that spreading out resources will help efficiency and public safety.

    “You just get to a point where sometimes it’s more efficient to spread them out,” Perry explained. “That way… you can reduce response times to everybody.”

    The new headquarters will include modern amenities, drive-through apparatus bays for trucks and ambulances, public-access zones and storm-water wetlands, increasing the physical presence of first responders in the area, which Perry says builds community trust.

    Perry says that trust-building is as crucial as infrastructure in this project.

    “I think it helps us…it builds confidence in our emergency services system,” he said.

    Zebulon’s new fire and EMS hub will also bring a permanent home for WakeEMS, which hasn’t had a dedicated station in town for several years. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Ryan Hayes-Owens

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  • How Charlotte police cracked a 10-year-old cold case from New Jersey

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    A person’s remains found in 2016 have finally been identified, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced Monday.

    Skeletal remains were found on Jan. 29, 2016 in a wooded area off of University Point Boulevard in the University City area, investigators said. At the time, officials said they were only able to determine the victim was male and there were “no obvious signs of foul play.”

    After conventional means failed to identify the victim, authorities said a sample of the remains was sent to Texas-based Othram Labs in 2022 for advanced DNA testing.

    In 2025, genetic research that stemmed from the 2022 sample allowed investigators to ultimately obtain a DNA profile from a close relative and confirm the victim’s identity, according to a release.

    The victim has been identified as Kenneth McCarthy. McCarthy, born in 1961, was a New Jersey native living in Charlotte at the time of his disappearance.

    His family said McCarthy worked in the IT field for several major corporations, the release said.

    Police have not said what led to McCarthy’s death. The investigation is, however, active and ongoing, CMPD said.

    Anyone with information is asked to call 704-432-8477 (TIPS) or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Alleged street racer loses control and crashes, TPD says

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    YBOR CITY, Fla. — Four people are dead and 11 others are injured after a car crashed into a bar in Ybor City early Saturday morning, Tampa police said.

    Officials say the alleged driver was 22-year-old Silas Sampson. They say he was speeding before he hit multiple people at Bradley’s, a bar on 7th Avenue.

    Tampa police say that at around 12:45 a.m., Tampa Police Air Service saw a car speeding on I-275. Police believe that this was one of the vehicles they saw racing earlier.

    When the driver got off the interstate, police attempted a pit maneuver and failed. When they got close to 7th Avenue, they disengaged due to the danger of doing a pit maneuver in the area.

    Authorities said the driver then driver lost control and crashed into a Bradley’s and hit over a dozen people. A witness says the victims were on the bar’s patio.

    Three people died at the scene and one died in the hospital, and 11 others were injured.

    “What I can tell you is all the victims were over 20. They were all adults. And we had four that were here that tragically lost their lives. They were out in Ybor, having a good time, expecting to go home safely. And a careless, reckless driver takes everybody’s lives in his hands and just ended this night in a situation that’s never going to be the same for these individuals,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw.

    Tampa police say the alleged driver is in custody.

    Florida Highway Patrol says the alleged driver is being charged with vehicular homicide and other felony charges are expected to follow.

    This remains as an active investigation.

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    Tyler O’Neill

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  • Cleveland Co. deputy charged in deadly domestic violence shooting, officials say

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    A deputy with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office has been charged in connection to a deadly shooting late Thursday evening, authorities said.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Cleveland County Sheriff’s Deputy Mitchell Hilton is accused of fatally shooting someone during a domestic incident Thursday evening

    •  The deputy was off-duty, officials said, when the shooting happened at the Crown Ridge Apartments in Shelby, N.C.

    •  Hilton is charged with first-degree murder

    • The SBI is leading the investigation


    Deputy Mitchell Hilton, 37, was off-duty when authorities say he shot and killed someone during a domestic dispute at the Crown Ridge Apartments on South Dekalb Street in Shelby, North Carolina.

    Shelby police officers responded to the shooting call, according to a release, and immediately asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for assistance.

    After learning the suspect in the case was a deputy, “the NC SBI was called to ensure a fair and impartial investigation,” officials said.

    Hilton has been charged with first-degree murder.

    “Domestic violence is a devastating issue that affects individuals and families from all walks of life, including members of the law enforcement community. It serves as a painful reminder that no one is immune to the far-reaching impact of these tragedies,” the sheriff’s office said in a release. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the victim during this incredibly difficult time.”

     

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Man accused in Michigan terror attack traveled to Cedar Point

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    OHIO —  Investigators say a third Michigan man is now facing charges in a plot to stage a terror attack on Halloween. He traveled to Cedar Point, an amusement park in Ohio, to scout the location, they said.

    What You Need To Know

    • He is accused of participating in the planning of a possible attack on LGBTQ+ bars in suburban Detroit that was inspired by the Islamic State, federal authorities have said

    • Nasser, his brother Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud are charged with conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated terrorist organization and receiving and transferring guns and ammunition for terrorism

    • Ali and Mahmoud made brief appearances in federal court Monday and will remain in custody at least until a Nov. 10 detention hearing

    Ayob Nasser, 19, was arrested Wednesday. He is accused of participating in the planning of a possible attack on LGBTQ+ bars in suburban Detroit that was inspired by the Islamic State, federal authorities have said.

    Also on Wednesday evening, acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba in New Jersey said in a video posted to social media that her office had charged two more people “connected” to the alleged plot. Court documents detailing the charges were not immediately available.

    Nasser, his brother Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud are charged with conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated terrorist organization and receiving and transferring guns and ammunition for terrorism, according to court documents.

    Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud were arrested Friday. Investigators say two minors, identified only as Person 1 and Person 2 in court documents, were also involved in the discussions.

    “We will not stop. We will follow the tentacles where they lead. We will continue to stand guard with the FBI against terrorism,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. said in a statement.

    It was unclear whether Nasser has an attorney. An attorney representing Nasser in an unrelated civil lawsuit, Hussein Shadi Bazzi, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    According to court records, Nasser is one of two people being sued in federal court by the makers of the popular video game Fortnite. The two are accused of making thousands of fake “bot” accounts that earned “tens of thousands of dollars in unearned payments.”

    Two attorneys representing Ali and Mahmoud declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday evening, and both said they are reading through an amended 93-page complaint filed in federal court. One of the attorneys, Amir Makled, over the weekend seemed to wave off the allegations, saying they were the result of “hysteria” and “fear-mongering.”

    Ali and Mahmoud made brief appearances in federal court Monday and will remain in custody at least until a Nov. 10 detention hearing.

    FBI agents had surveilled the group for weeks, even using a camera on a pole outside a Dearborn house, according to the court filing. Investigators also got access to encrypted chats and other conversations and scoured social media posts.

    According to the court filing, investigators searched the residences of the group, an auto repair shop operated by Ali and Nasser’s family and a storage unit rented by Ali. Authorities found AR-15-style rifles, ammunition, loaded handguns and GoPro cameras, as well as tactical vests and backpacks.

    Five cellular devices were also seized, the FBI said.

    Investigators said that Ali, Mahmoud and one of the minors, Person 1, visited bars in Ferndale, a northern suburb of Detroit, despite all being under the legal drinking age. The city attracts tens of thousands of people to its annual Pride parade.

    Nasser and Person 2 traveled twice in September to “an amusement park in the Midwest, approximately three hours from Dearborn, Michigan,” court documents say, citing phone records and surveillance footage. Investigators say a computer at the home of Nasser and Ali revealed that someone had searched “is it crowded on halloweekend” at the amusement park.

    Cedar Point, an amusement park near Cleveland, Ohio, hosted special Halloween hours this past month. Tony Clark, a spokesperson for Cedar Point, confirmed that individuals connected with the plot visited its property, and the park assisted the FBI with its investigation.

    “Together with additional third-party experts, the park took immediate and appropriate action to ensure the continued safety of all on property,” Clark said.

    In the new court filing, investigators said a group chat between the men indicated a Halloween attack with repeated references to pumpkins and pumpkin emojis. In the group chat, one of the unnamed conspirators wrote “American Jewish Center,” and Nasser responded “pumpkin sounds good now.”

    The court filing says Person 1 regularly consulted the father of a “local Islamic extremist ideologue” about when to commit a “good deed.”

    Phone records also showed members of the group looked up information on various mass killings, including the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting and the deadly 2025 New Orleans truck attack.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • State of emergency declared, rescue efforts continue after crash

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    LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., has declared a state of emergency after Tuesday’s deadly UPS cargo plane crash that killed at least nine people, he said during a news conference. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., declared a state of emergency after Tuesday’s deadly UPS cargo plane crash 

    • The crash killed at least nine people; Beshear said that number could grow by one more 

    • The plane crashed around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday as it was departing for Honolulu from UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, crashing and exploding in a massive fireball

    • Search-and-rescue efforts remain ongoing


    Declaring a state of emergency helps expedite resources and support, Beshear said. The Team Kentucky Emergency Relief Fund has been activated for donations. Funds will help with funerals, recovery and rebuilding. He urged the importance of unity and grieving together, encouraging Kentuckians to donate. 

    Beshear said he expects the death toll could grow by at least one more but is hopeful it won’t increase otherwise. Search-and-rescue efforts continue. 

    “We hope it doesn’t grow by too many more,” the governor said. 

    Members of the National Transportation Safety Board arrived on the ground Wednesday morning and are leading the investigation, Beshear said. U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, said 28 NTSB investigators are on the ground with support from Washington, D.C. 

    Beshear posted online Wednesday morning that 16 families who gathered at a reunification center “have reported loved ones unaccounted for.” The center is located at 2911 Taylor Blvd., with resources including the Louisville Metro Police Department Victims Unit, Red Cross and Seven Counties. 

    Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, expressed empathy and support for victims’ families and the wider community. Those seeking urgent support should call 988; those with non-emergencies should call the city’s Office of Violence Prevention at 502-574-6949. Families needing food can call Dare to Care at 502-966-3821. 

    Greenberg said he, Beshear, McGarvey and others are coordinating at all levels, and there is strong bipartisan cooperation from federal and state lawmakers including Republican U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.  

    “The reality is, this rocked our community,” McGarvey said. “Louisville looked apocalyptic last night.” 

    The plane, UPS Flight 2976, crashed around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday as it was departing for Honolulu from UPS Worldport at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, crashing and exploding in a massive fireball.

    A statement from UofL Health Wednesday morning said that it treated 15 patients related to the incident; 13 of them have been discharged, while two remain in critical condition. 

    A plume of smoke rises from the site of a UPS cargo plane crash at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Louisville. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

    The airport is 7 miles from downtown Louisville. Emergency officials initially put out a shelter-in-place order for a 5-mile radius. Greenberg said he’s hopeful that can continue to shrink. 

    By Wednesday morning, that was reduced to a quarter-of-a-mile radius. The air quality in the broader Louisville area is deemed safe, and water is safe to drink citywide unless directly advised by Louisville Water Company. About 135 Louisville Gas & Electric customers are still without power as the company restores service. 

    A Temporary Flight Restriction remains around the crash site; private drones are banned in the area and violators could face federal fines or prosecution, Greenberg said. 

    “We will find your drone, and you run the risk of prosecution, of heavy federal fines,” Greenberg said. “Please do not be that person that is getting in the way of our recovery efforts.”

    Video showed flames on the plane’s left wing and a trail of smoke. The plane then lifted slightly off the ground before crashing and exploding in a huge fireball. Video also revealed portions of a building’s shredded roof next to the end of the runway. Beshear said the plane had 38,000 gallons of fuel.

    He thanked the Okolona Fire Department as they were the main responding agency, but several fire departments from additional areas provided support or backfilled local stations. Mark Little, Okolona fire chief, just two weeks ago, crews had conducted a training exercise with Louisville Fire and Airport Authority to prepare for these types of incidents. 

    Beshear said a business, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling, appeared to be “hit pretty directly,” and a nearby auto parts operation was also affected. He said the crash narrowly missed a restaurant bar, a Ford plant, and the city’s convention center that was hosting a livestock show.

    He said he didn’t know the status of the three crew members aboard the plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 made in 1991. It wasn’t immediately clear if they were being counted among the dead.

    “Anybody who has seen the images, the video, knows how violent this crash is,” he said.

    UPS announced Tuesday night that it had halted package sorting at the center and didn’t say when it would resume. The hub employs thousands of workers, has 300 daily flights and sorts more than 400,000 packages an hour.

    “We all know somebody who works at UPS,” asid Metro Council member Betsy Ruhe, D-21. “And they’re all texting their friends, their family, trying to make sure everyone is safe. Sadly, some of those texts are probably going to go unanswered.”

    The airport, meanwhile, shut down for the night. It resumed operations Wednesday morning, with at least one runway open. Flights that were canceled Tuesday were scheduled to depart and arrive first. Some flights previously scheduled to take off from the airport Wednesday morning were canceled.

     

    ARRIVALS TO SDF

    DEPARTURES FROM SDF

     

    Some stranded passengers spent the night in the airport.

    Some roads near the airport remained closed Wednesday, and Jefferson County Public Schools canceled classes and activities for the day.

    Greenberg reiterated continued support and ongoing coordination with state and federal teams. 

    “No one should have to deal with tragedy alone,” the mayor said. 

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • ‘This is No. 1 priority for us’: Authorities continue manhunt in Craven County

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    The State Bureau of Investigation, N.C. State Highway Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard have deployed air units to assist in the search for a Craven County man accused of killing his grandmother and stabbing a deputy, Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes said Tuesday.

    What You Need To Know

    • The search continues for Dominic Connelly, 24, who is accused of multiple crimes, including arson, murder and stabbing a Craven County deputy

    • The deputy was stabbed inside a Bojangles in Vanceboro on the night of Wednesday, Oct. 29

    • Connelly’s grandmother was found dead inside a burning home on Oct. 25

    • He is considered armed and dangerous, officials said, and should not be approached. Anyone who sees him should immediately call 911


    Craven County Crime Stoppers and the U.S. Marshals have also issued a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Dominic Connelly.

    On Nov. 4, authorities said Connelly was seen on a home surveillance camera in the area of N.C. 43 Highway and Mile Road in Vanceboro, North Carolina.


    Hughes said that in prior sightings, Connelly had typically been seen wearing dark-colored clothing and seemed unprepared for the elements. However, in the Nov. 4 footage, Hughes said Connelly appears to have gotten a pair of desert sand colored coveralls.

    “We do have reason to believe there might be people out there assisting him in some way, shape or form. Whether it’s money, food, water, clothing… he does have family in the area,” the sheriff said.

    Authorities are continuing to ask the public to report any sightings of Connelly. He is considered armed and dangerous, officials say, and should not be approached.

    Anyone who sees Connelly should call 911 immediately.


     

    On Oct. 29, a deputy encountered Connelly in the bathroom of a Bojangles at the corner of Dawson Lane and Highway 43 in Vanceboro, North Carolina, according to a release. Connelly stabbed the deputy with a knife, officials said, before running off toward the Bailey Lane Apartments behind the Bojangles.

    The sheriff’s office said they were initially looking for Connelly in connection to the death of his grandmother, Patricia Lopedote, 72, on Oct. 25.

    Lopedote’s body was found inside a burning home on N.C. 101 Highway in Havelock, North Carolina, investigators said.

    Authorities said Connelly set the fire and took off in Lopedote’s vehicle, which was found unoccupied in a New Bern, N.C., parking lot on Pine Tree Drive on Oct. 28.

     

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    Justin Pryor, Caroline King

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