Paul Anthony Cox
On March 27th, 2011 at 10:10 p.m., Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office responded to a request for a welfare check at a residence on Cherry Road in Washington. Upon arrival, Deputies learned that a Chihuahua was intentionally killed during a domestic dispute.
As a result of information collected during the investigation, Deputy Jason Cleary applied for and obtained a warrant charging Paul Anthony Cox, age 47, of Cherry Road in Washington with Felony Cruelty to Animals. Cox was arrested on March 28th and held in the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $15,000.00 secured bond set by Magistrate Donald Sadler.
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Paul Cox
On March 27th, 2011 at 10:10 p.m., Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office responded to a request for a welfare check at a residence on Cherry Road in Washington. Upon arrival, Deputies learned that a Chihuahua was intentionally killed during a domestic dispute.
As a result of information collected during the investigation, Deputy Jason Cleary applied for and obtained a warrant charging Paul Anthony Cox, age 47, of Cherry Road in Washington with Felony Cruelty to Animals. Cox is still at large. If you have any information on the location of Paul Cox, please call Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at (252)974-6400. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000.00 for information leading to an arrest in this case. Callers do not have to give their name to receive a reward.
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Jose Luis Bennett
On March 27th, 2011, Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a domestic dispute at a residence on Highway 306 South in Aurora. Upon arrival, Deputies discovered broken glass and other damaged items in the home. Deputy Brad Cumston began an investigation and learned that a handgun found at the scene had been discharged several times during the dispute. Cumston processed the crime scene and collected evidence.
As a result, Deputy Cumston applied for and obtained warrants charging Jose Luis Bennett, age 45, of Highway 306 South with Possession of a Firearm by Felon, Assault, and Communicating Threats. Bennett was arrested and held in the Beaufort County Detention Center without bond because of the domestic nature of the charges.
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Charles Allen Midyette
On March 26th, 2011, Deputy Jason Cleary with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division was patrolling the Aurora area. At approximately 03:21 a.m., Cleary observed a vehicle traveling on West Road at a high rate of speed. Deputy Cleary observed the vehicle’s lights had been turned off as it drove east toward Broome Road. Cleary attempted to perform a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver increased his speed and attempted to elude the Deputy. Cleary notified Communications and other Deputies that he was pursuing the vehicle.
The driver turned left on Broome Road then wrecked in a ditch at the intersection of Highway 33 and Broome Road. As Cleary arrived at the crash scene, he observed a black male run from the passenger side of the vehicle. Cleary searched the area and located a subject hiding in bushes nearby. After being ordered not to move, the subject jumped up and ran toward Deputy Cleary in an aggressive manner. Deputy Cleary deployed his Taser to subdue the subject and take him into custody. Cleary then learned the subject was the registered owner of the vehicle. The owner, Charles Allen Midyette, age 46, of Middle Street in Aurora, was arrested and charged with Felony Flee to Elude Arrest and Resist/Delay/Obstruct an Officer. Midyette was held in the Beaufort County Detention Center on an $8,000.00 secured bond.
Anyone with information on the identity of the passenger is asked to call Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at (252)974-6400. Callers do not have to give their name to receive a reward.
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Fortino Ramirez Garcia
On February 10, 2011 at approximately 3:56 p.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a fire at 458 Robersonville Road in Washington, NC. Clarks Neck Volunteer Fire Department and Old Ford Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and discovered an abandoned camper trailer that was fully engulfed in flames. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters requested a Deputy to respond to the scene due to the suspicious nature of the fire.
The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation, collected evidence and conducted interviews. As a result, Investigator Rob Voliva applied for and obtained a warrant charging Fortino Ramirez Garcia, age 16, of Hudson Drive in Washington, North Carolina with one count of Felony Breaking and Entering and one count of Burning Personal Property. A juvenile was charged by Juvenile Petition with the same offenses for his involvement. Garcia was arrested by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office on March 23, 2011 and held on a $2,000 secured bond in the Beaufort County Detention Center.
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FRAUD ALERT/BAIL SCAM
Since March 15, 2011, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has received two reports of fraudulent activity in which an unknown suspect attempts to get a victim to wire money to bail out an incarcerated relative. These con artists typically prey on elderly victims, but anyone could receive calls from someone attempting to steal money using this scam.
Suspects involved in this activity may represent themselves as a relative of the victim, a bail bondsman, or a representative of a law enforcement agency that has the victim’s relative under arrest. The common method in these scams is the caller’s need for the victim to wire money as soon as possible to help a relative. These con artists are taking advantage of our citizen’s good nature and concern for their loved ones.
The Sheriff’s Office recommends citizens to conduct independent research into the alleged circumstances before wiring of funds to help friends or relatives. Most requests for immediate wire transfers of money are fraudulent. Citizens can protect themselves by contacting family members to find out if the alleged relative is in fact incarcerated or by contacting their local law enforcement agency to request assistance. Citizens should ask the caller for their name, location, business name, and phone number. If the caller’s request does not seem quite right, it probably is not. Wired fund transfers are usually nonrefundable once a con artist receives the payment.
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Angelo Harper Robert Blount Terry Williams
On October 26, 2010, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a Breaking and Entering and Larceny that occurred at a residence on Spring Creek Road in Aurora, NC. The victim reported several items stolen including a safe and four rifles. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation, collected evidence, and conducted interviews. On November 5th, the Sheriff’s Office applied for and obtained a search warrant for a residence on First Street in Aurora. The search warrant was executed and the four stolen rifles were recovered from the residence.
As a result of information collected during the investigation, Investigator Ernest Moore applied for and obtained warrants charging Angelo Harper, age 21, of Fisher Village Road in Aurora and Robert Blount, age 20, of Bonnerton Road in Aurora with one(1) count each of Felony Breaking and Entering and one(1) count each of Felony Larceny. Terry Williams, age 42, of First Street in Aurora was charged with Possession of Stolen Property.
Harper and Blount were arrested on March 17, 2011 by the Aurora Police Department and held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond set by Magistrate Holmes. Williams turned himself in on March 18, 2011 and was released under a $2,500 secured bond set by Magistrate Curtis.
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Shauna Shalana Moody
On February 25, 2011, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report alleging fraud. A church in Blount’s Creek reported someone had withdrawn money from the church’s checking account without permission. Approximately $30,000.00 was taken from the account. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation and identified a suspect.
As a result of information obtained during the investigation, Investigator Robert Gaskins obtained warrants charging Shauna Shalana Moody, age 44, of Stilley Station Road in Blount’s Creek with two counts of Identity Theft and two counts of Obtaining Property By False Pretenses. Moody was arrested on March 18th and released on a $5,000.00 secured bond. Additional charges against Moody are pending.
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David Sprouse Bobby
Sprouse
On March 1, 2011, Investigators with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Drug
Unit conducted a search at 1000 Possum Track Road in Chocowinity. Investigators found marijuana,
methamphetamine, morphine pills, 6 rifles, 3 shotguns, scales and plastic baggies
used to package marijuana and methamphetamine.
Investigators arrested David Sprouse, 31 years of age and Bobby Sprouse,
40 years of age, of 1000 Possum Track Road in Chocowinity.
David
Sprouse was charged with Possession with
Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Sell and
Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by a convicted Felon and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. David Sprouse was confined in the Beaufort
County Detention Center under a $10,000.00 secured bond.
Bobby
Sprouse was charged with Possession of
Methamphetamine, Possession of Morphine a Schedule II Controlled Substance,
Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bobby Sprouse
was confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $1,500.00 secured
bond.
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The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau continue to investigate eight unsolved cases of arson in Beaufort County that have been reported since February 16, 2011. Beaufort County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000.00 for information leading to an arrest in these cases. An anonymous donor has come forward and added an additional $1,000.00 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of any person(s) involved in these unsolved cases.
Anyone with information about these fires is asked to call Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at (252)974-6400 or Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office at (252)946-7111. Callers do not have to give their name to receive a reward.
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Operation Medicine Drop Take-back Event
Operation Medicine Drop provides a way to join the fight against drug abuse, protect your family and pets against accidential ingestion and help keep our water clean and safe.
Bring prescription and over-thecounter medicines to the takeback event and keep them out of the wrong hands.
For more information visit http://www.omd-nc.org/
Date: March 26, 2011
Time: 8am-12pm
Location: Lowes Home Improvement 1701 Carolina Ave. Washington
Contact: Capt. Tim Mclawhorn, BCSO 946-7111
Pam Daw, BCDC 946-0151
David Emmerling, PTRF 946-7211
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Todd Jarvis
On February 22, 2011 at approximately 11:44 p.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a fire at an abandoned residence on Highway 264 near Jones Bridge Road. Firefighters with Bath and Pantego Volunteer Fire Departments responded to battle the blaze. At approximately 11:49, an on-duty Beaufort County Deputy who was responding to assist on Highway 264 located a second fire at an abandoned residence at 2830 Free Union Church Road in Pinetown. Pinetown and Bunyan Volunteer Fire Departments responded to fight the second fire.
While attempting to extinguish the fire at 2830 Free Union Church Road, firefighters received a report at approximately 12:14 a.m. of a third fire at 4204 Free Union Church Road. The property was a block structure used as a community fellowship club. Upon arrival, fire crews from Pinetown and Bunyan found fire through the roof of the building and began to fight the fire.
At approximately 12:20 a.m., firefighters that had been working to put out the fire on Highway 264 discovered a fourth fire at a storage barn on
Free Union Church Road between Jones Bridge Road and Christian School Road. Bath and Pantego firefighters worked to extinguish that blaze. Investigators and extra Deputies were called out to begin the investigation into the source of the fires in Beaufort County.
At 12:51 a.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a structure fire at an uninhabited residence at 10180 Highway 32 South in Washington County. Pinetown and Bunyan Volunteer Fire Departments and the Plymouth Fire Department responded to fight the fire.
On March 3, 2011 at 5:21 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a strong gas smell at the Long Acre Community Building located at 23177 Highway 32 North in Plymouth, NC. The Pinetown Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and discovered an open gas line and burned items inside the building.
On March 6, 2011 at approximately 4:32 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a report of an abandoned trailer fire on Highway 99 North in the Pungo Community. Pantego and Pungo Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the scene and put out the fire. Firefighters notified the Sheriff’s Office that the fire was suspicious. Investigators responded to the scene and began to document and collect physical evidence.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist in processing the fire scenes and to provide additional manpower for the numerous leads generated during the investigation. On March 7th, investigators with the Sheriff’s Office and Agents with the SBI served a search warrant at a residence on Elliott Road in Bath, NC. Evidence was collected during the search warrant.
On March 10th, Investigator Wesley Waters with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office applied for and obtained warrants charging Todd Austin Jarvis, age 26, of Elliott Road in Bath with six counts of Burning of Certain Buildings and four counts of Felony Breaking and Entering. The charges stem from the three fires on Free Union Church Road and the fire on Highway 264 reported on the night of February 22nd, the fire at the Community Building on Highway 32 North reported on March 3rd, and the fire reported on Highway 99 North on March 6th. Jarvis turned himself in at the Beaufort County Magistrate’s Office on March 10th and was also served with a warrant obtained by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for the fire on Highway 32 South in Plymouth reported on the night of February 22nd. Jarvis was released after posting a $70,000.00 secured bond. Jarvis has been cooperating with Investigators since the search warrant was served at his residence on March 7th. Jarvis attributes his actions to emotional distress.
The investigation into the remaining arsons in Beaufort County is on-going. Anyone with information about these fires is asked to call Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at (252)974-6400 or Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office at (252)946-7111. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000.00 for information leading to an arrest in these cases. Callers do not have to give their name to receive a reward.
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On March 8, 2011 at approximately 11:58 a.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a woods fire on VOA Road near Cherry Run Road in Washington. Clarks Neck Volunteer Fire Department and the NC Forestry Service responded to the scene and discovered an abandoned residence that was fully engulfed in flames. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters requested a Deputy to respond to the scene due to the suspicious nature of the fire.
The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation and requested the assistance of the NCSBI to process the fire scene. Information collected at the scene indicates that the fire was a result of arson. The investigation is on-going and the Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information about the fire to call Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at (252)974-6400. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000.00 for information leading to an arrest in this case. Callers do not have to give their name to receive a reward. Investigators do not believe the fire on VOA Road was set by the same suspect in the recent Pinetown and Bath arsons.
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Arthur Stanley Cota
On January 24, 2011, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received information that an adult had been providing alcoholic beverages to juveniles at a home in Chocowinity. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation and conducted interviews. During the investigation, Investigators discovered that the adult had assisted victims under the age of 16 in videotaping the victims engaged in inappropriate activities. Investigators applied for and obtained a search warrant to search the adult’s residence. The search warrant was executed at the residence on Bay Drive in Chocowinity and evidence was collected.
As a result of the investigation, Investigator Ernest Moore applied for and obtained warrants charging Arthur Stanley Cota, age 50, of Bay Drive in Chocowinity, NC with four(4) counts of First-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and one(1) count of Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Cota was arrested on March 4th and held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond set by Magistrate Holmes.
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On March 3, 2011 at 12:38 a.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a fire at an abandoned residence in the 700 block of Bay City Road in Aurora, NC. The Aurora Volunteer Fire Department responded and extinguished the blaze. The Fire Department notified the Sheriff’s Office that the fire was suspicious and a Deputy was dispatched to secure the scene.
At 5:21 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a strong gas smell at the Long Acre Community Building located at 23177 Highway 32 North in Plymouth, NC. The Pinetown Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and discovered an open gas line and burned items inside the building.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to process the fire scenes. Both fires are under investigation and are suspected Arsons at this time. Investigators are looking into the possibility that these fires may be related to eight other Arsons in Beaufort County in the previous two weeks. Additional information will be released when available.
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Daniel Elliot Toler
On January 12, 2011, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a Fraud that occurred at a business on Highway 33 East in Chocowinity, North Carolina. The victim reported his personal information had been used by the suspect to obtain payment for work. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation, collected evidence, and conducted interviews.
As a result of the investigation, Investigator Rob Voliva applied for and obtained a warrant charging Daniel Elliot Toler, age 27, of Old Brick Road in Vanceboro with one(1) count of Identity Theft. Toler was arrested by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office on February 24, 2011 and was released on a $5,000.00 unsecured bond set by Magistrate Smith.
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