911 Whiteville man arrested on drug charges during checkpoint

Submitted by Sarah Crandall, Web Producer

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013, 11:34am

Whiteville man arrested on drug charges during checkpoint

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A Whiteville man was one of several suspects charged during a March 15 “Booze It and Lose It” checkpoint on Hwy. 74/76 West at the Brunswick River Bridge, according to a spokesperson for the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.

Jarmall Akeem Collins, 28, was arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine; possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine; simple possession of schedule III controlled substance (two hydrocodone 10mg pills); simple possession of schedule IV controlled substance (30 grams of crack/cocaine and two grams of marijuana); and possession of drug paraphernalia (digital scales).

As of Monday, Collins was being held at the Brunswick County Detention Facility under a $100,000 bond.

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Columbus Co. officials offer reward for man who died from gunshot wound

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Thursday, March 14th, 2013, 4:50pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Columbus County officials are offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the death of Willie Lee Marley, who died from a gunshot wound earlier this month.

According to the sheriff's office, Marley, 54, was found with a gunshot wound to the body at the intersection of Golf Course and Union Valley Roads, just outside Whiteville.

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Law enforcement works together, make several arrests

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013, 12:42pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Several law enforcement agencies in Columbus County worked together to protect the people who live in that area.

According to Fair Bluff Police Chief J.H. Hewett, the agencies worked together at the beginning of the month in a joint operation aimed to get narcotics and weapons off the street and out of the hands of children.

During the operation, several arrests were made, narcotics and drunk drivers were taken off the roads, and an illegal alcohol establishment was closed down.

According to the Fair Bluff Police Department the following were arrested and charged:

Tyrone Grave of Fair Bluff

Order for Arrest for Harnett County Breaking and Entering
Order for Arrest for Harnett County Possession of Stolen Vehicle

James Hemingway of Fair Bluff

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Deputies search for men involved in attempted ATM robbery

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013, 12:46pm

Marcus Crew Rivenbark (Source: Columbus Co. Jail)

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Deputies with the Columbus County Sheriff's Office found a sledge hammer at an ATM machine in Riegelwood Monday.

According to officials, some men were trying to break into the Federal Credit Union's ATM around 3:25 a.m.

Investigators said a deputy went to the bank after an alarm went off and arrested Marcus Crew Rivenbark, who was wearing gloves.

According to authorities, others were involved as well, but they got away. They are working with leads to arrest the other people involved.

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Have you seen this woman? Police looking for suspect in credit card number fraud

Submitted by Sarah Crandall, Web Producer

Friday, January 4th, 2013, 4:49pm

Have you seen this woman? Police looking for suspect in credit card number fraud

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) – Police in Whiteville are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect accused of using a stolen credit card number to make a purchase at an area Walmart.

The card reportedly belongs to a U.S. soldier who used his card recently to pay for dinner at a Georgia restaurant, along with some of his fellow troops.

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ARMED & DANGEROUS: Man accused of shooting victim 18 times

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Tuesday, December 4th, 2012, 1:35pm

Demoncrick "Man" Hunter (Source: Whiteville Police Department)

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) – Officers with the Whiteville Police Department are searching for a man accused of shooting someone 18 times.

According to police, Demoncrick "Man" Hunter is accused of shooting Kenya Shipman in October during an argument at the Sandy Ridge apartment complex.

Authorities say Hunter is also wanted in connection to another shooting at the same apartment complex in which Jonathan Mullins was shot 18 times in the lower areas of his body. Police say Mullins is in stable condition.

According to authorities, Hunter was last seen at the Sandy Ridge apartments November 30, 2012. His last known address is Apt. 5 F in the same apartment complex.

Police say Hunter is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Whiteville Police Department.

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Preacher sentenced for sex crimes that happened in 1998

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Monday, December 3rd, 2012, 5:03pm

Thomas Archie Wiggins Jr. (Source: New Hanover County Sheriff's Office)

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – A preacher from Wilmington was sentenced in superior court Monday to six to nine years in prison for sex charges that date back to 1998.

Thomas Archie Wiggins took a plea deal Monday, pleading guilty to six counts of sex offense in a parental role.

He confessed in 2011 to five charges of first degree sex offense and five counts of indecent liberties with a minor for incidents that happened in 1998.

The charges stem from allegations of a boy who was 14 years old at the time of the incident. Prosecutors said Wiggins asked the victim about his sexual experience when he turned 14 and started sleeping in the same bed as the adolescent, cuddling him.

According to prosecutors, Wiggins was acting as a substitute parent. They testified they incidents happened on the weekends with the victim, who was from Bolton, would stay with Wiggins in Wilmington.

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