Career Criminal out on Bond arrested on Additional Drug Charges in Nash County

On January 24, 2023, Nash County Narcotics Detectives were in the Red Oak area when they witnessed an apparent drug transaction at Faulkner’s Convenience Store. Detectives recognized Kenneth Brandon POMEROY of Spring Hope, NC, meet with an unknown male at the gas pump. POMEROY and the unknown male conducted what appeared to be a hand-to-hand exchange within the immediate view of Detectives. POMEROY quickly left the location and was stopped by Detectives for a traffic infraction violation. Detectives also learned that POMEROY had an outstanding felony warrant for Habitual Felon out of Nash County.

During the traffic stop, POMEROY was taken into custody for his active warrant. K9 Maya was deployed and indicated a positive alert for the presence of narcotics inside of POMEROY’s vehicle. A probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of Marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. When preparing to conduct a more thorough search of POMEROY, POMEROY produces a blue bag containing a white powder that was concealed in his sleeve and began eating the bag and powder. Detectives immediately tried to stop POMEROY’s actions, however he pulled away and ran from the scene. After a short foot pursuit, POMEROY was captured and continued to fight and kick at Detectives. Detectives used an issued Taser to drive stun POMEROY to attempt to stop him from consuming the suspected narcotics. POMEROY complied with the Taser and the substance was removed from his mouth.

Detectives noticed that the plastic bag had been punctured and POMEROY had small amounts of the narcotics in his mouth. POMEROY advised Detectives that the substance he consumed was “Fentanyl”. Detectives immediately rendered aid and contacted Nash County EMS to respond to the scene. POMEROY began showing signs of an opioid overdose and was transported by EMS to Nash General Hospital for treatment. POMEROY was treated and released by Nash General Hospital and was transported to the Nash County Detention Center. POMEROY was charged with the following:

Kenneth Brandon POMEROY,
W/M, 07-20-1985
Strawbush Ct. Spring Hope, NC

Habitual Felon (Warrant for arrest) F) Destruction of Evidence (F) Possession of Fentanyl Resist / Obstruct / Delay Possession of Marijuana Possession of Drug Paraphernalia POMEROY was issued a $400,000 dollar secured bond and was booked into the Nash County Detention Center. His First Appearance Court Date was January 25, 2023 in Nash County District Court.

Spring Hope man sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking in Nash County

On January 20, 2023 Christopher Reed Pinner of Spring Hope, NC was sentenced to 95 months in Federal prison for distributing Methamphetamine in the Nash County area. Pinner pled guilty to the offenses that occurred in August of 2020 and was sentenced in Federal court in New Bern, NC by US District Court Judge L. Flanagan.

During the investigation led by the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, Detectives found that Pinner was responsible for trafficking large amounts of Methamphetamine from South Carolina to the Nash County area. In 2020, Pinner was stopped by the Nash County Sheriff’s Office in Rocky Mount, NC after detectives learned that he was returning from a trip to South Carolina. During this traffic stop, detectives seized a quantity of Methamphetamine concealed in his clothing.

Sheriff Keith Stone would like to thank the US Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District for their assistance in this case and AUSA Scott Lemmon who prosecuted the case. “It is cases like this that make an impact in our communities, with drug trafficking comes violence and problems in our county. It is my priority to remove these problems from Nash County and ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens. This is one more step in our fight against Guns, Gangs, and Drugs”. – Sheriff Keith Stone

Update in Homicide Investigation

Rocky Mount, N.C. – On Jan. 5th, 2023, at approximately 8:22 pm officers responded to the 1200 block of Hargrove Street in reference to a fight in progress.

 

When officers arrived on scene they found a 30-year-old Darnell Battle lying on the ground. First responders provided life-saving measures, however Battle died at the scene of injuries sustained during the fight.

UPDATE: The Rocky Mount Police Department Criminal Investigation’s Homicide Unit continues to follow up on leads in this case. As a result, they have arrested and charged Antonio Lamont Jordan Sr. for his involvement in Battle’s death. His arrest is in addition to the arrest of  Dontarious Whitehead and Mark Lee Smith, who were previously arrested for their involvement. Jordan Sr is charged with first-degree murder and is held in the Edgecombe County Jail with no bond.

The Rocky Mount Police Department Criminal Investigation Division continues to investigate this incident, and requests anyone with information to call the Rocky Mount Police Department at 252-972-1411, call Crimestoppers at 252-977-1111 for cash rewards, or Text-A-Tip (text RMPOL and your message to 274637).

About Rocky Mount: The city of Rocky Mount, located in the Coastal Plains of North Carolina, was incorporated in 1867 and lies in Edgecombe and Nash Counties. Rocky Mount is a two-time All-America City on the Tar River. The city was recognized as one of 10 winners nationwide of the 2020-21 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize. Serving as the Gateway to Eastern North Carolina, the city’s 875 employees serve approximately 54,000 residents daily.

The city’s mission is to advance community well-being, safety and quality of life by delivering excellent public services and actively collaborating with the community towards a fulfilling and inspired future for its citizens. As a publicly-owned utility, the city of Rocky Mount is committed to safe, reliable service for its customers and operates in Nash and Edgecombe counties, providing customers with electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater (sewer), refuse, recycling and/or stormwater services.  To learn more, visit www.rockymountnc.gov for news and updates.

Condolences Goes Out To Eltee & Terry Joyner & Sister Shelby Lane Along With The Entire Family Of The Late Lillian Deader Lane-Joyner

Lillian Deader Lane-Joyner 83, passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2022.

Eltee, Terry and Shelby are the children of Lillian however they were raised by their aunt Gail and Pop Sharpe. They are known from the Hill at Wiggins Crossroads. My grandparents lived there so I got to know them real well basically grew up with them. Good people.

Memorial service 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Hunter-Odom Funeral Service, 121 S. Fairview Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27801 with Reverend James Marvin Williams, officiating.

The family is requesting no flowers.

Political response muted as questions linger on state auditor’s car crash

News this week that state auditor Beth Wood ran her state-owned vehicle into a parked car last month in downtown Raleigh, then allegedly left the scene, yielded a muted response from her colleagues Friday as they waited on the auditor to address multiple outstanding questions.

Most members of the Council of State, a collection of 10 statewide elected officials, including the auditor, declined to comment or didn’t respond when WRAL News sought comment on the incident and Wood’s future.

That includes Gov. Roy Cooper, who, like Wood, is a Democrat. His press office didn’t respond to multiple requests.

Some colleagues called on Wood to answer questions, which she hasn’t been willing to do since news broke Wednesday about the Dec. 8 wreck. Wood has referred questions to her attorney, Roger Smith Jr., who has’t responded to WRAL News inquiries.

“I’d like to see Auditor Wood be more forthright with the people and give us the facts about this case,” Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said in a statement Friday. “As elected officials we need to be transparent and hold ourselves to a higher standard.”

State Treasurer Dale Folwell said he was “confident that Auditor Wood will address this matter in a manner the people she represents would expect of her.”

“On a personal level, I was saddened to learn of this news,” Folwell said in a written statement. “Auditor Wood has a long career as a dedicated and effective public servant.”

Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson said he was “confident in the judicial process,” noting Wood has a court date Thursday.

“I will say that our society is quick to judge and slow to forgive,” Dobson, who along with Folwell and Causey is a Republican, said in a written statement. “Auditor Wood is a committed public servant and has worked hard for the citizens of North Carolina.”

Quite a few questions remain about the incident. What’s known is based on police reports, accounts from the family who owns the vehicle that Wood’s state-issued Toyota Camry was found up against on the night of Dec. 8, pictures from the aftermath and a report that Wood herself was required to file with the state’s motor fleet manager, disclosing the crash.

Wood said on the form that she “made a sharp sudden turn and struck a parked vehicle.” A police report says her car — official North Carolina license plate No. 6 — “overrode up onto the hood of the vehicle.” Witnesses of the aftermath said the vehicle was left running and that there was no driver in sight. Wood was charged with misdemeanor hit and run and cited with an unsafe movement infraction.

What political fallout may come remains to be seen. She’s 68 and up for re-election in 2024. If she runs, it would be for a fifth term. She’s made a political career out of demanding transparency and accountability from state agencies.

“If it’s simply a traffic accident it’s embarrassing,” Meredith College poll director David McLennan said Friday. “I guess what raises questions for me is why she’s so silent about it. … The longer this goes on, and the more that anybody who runs against her in 2024 decides to use it, it could be more than embarrassing. It could be raising other questions about how she does her job.”

Chris Valverde, the owner of the car that was struck, learned of the crash from his daughter, who had borrowed the car to go to work at a downtown restaurant. She called him with the news that night. “She was telling me that the car was on still, and someone had just fled the scene,” Valverde told WRAL News.

Valverde says that he wants answers and accountability for someone whose job it is to keep people accountable. As auditor, Wood’s office examines state spending and processes.

“We trust our government officials to be responsible in everything they do,” Valverde said, “and I think that was very irresponsible of her to flee the scene.” (Source)

State Auditor Beth Wood says she was ‘shaken’ and regrets leaving scene of post-gathering crash

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood acknowledged for the first time publicly that she left the scene of a Raleigh crash last month that resulted in a hit-and-run charge. Meanwhile, political opponents called for her resignation.

In a statement Monday, Wood described the Dec. 8 crash as accidental, noted that she spent about two hours at a holiday gathering before the incident, and said she accepted “personal responsibility.”

Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson, a Republican, said in a statement on Friday: “Our society is quick to judge and slow to forgive,” Dobson, a Republican, said in a statement. “Auditor Wood is a committed public servant and has worked hard for the citizens of North Carolina.”

Gov. Roy Cooper’s office added on Monday: "This was a troubling incident and the Governor is glad that the Auditor has addressed it publicly. The Governor has not communicated with her about it. There’s an investigation and court proceeding going on and he believes it’s appropriate for that to proceed."

Wood drove a state-issued vehicle into a parked car and "overrode up onto the hood" of the car on Dec. 8 about 8:30 p.m., according to police and state insurance reports. It happened about a block from her office.

The car Wood was driving, a 2021 Toyota sedan, was left with the engine running, according to a police report. "The driver of the vehicle appeared to have fled the scene," the report said. Both vehicles were towed by wreckers.

Wood was charged Dec. 12 by Raleigh Police with misdemeanor hit and run resulting in property damage. Wood was also cited with an unsafe movement infraction. Nobody was injured in the crash, police said. There were no witnesses of the crash itself, but there was surveillance video, according to police.

Wood is scheduled to appear in administrative court on Thursday. She said Monday that she is cooperating with police. Wood had previously declined to comment. She referred questions to her lawyer, Roger Smith Jr., who didn’t respond to requests for comment last week.

Lane Rosen, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor, submitted their letter of resignation on Friday, effective at the close of business on Monday, according to Neal McHenry, assistant general counsel in the state auditor’s office. Rosen didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

“Come with me to quit my state government job working as a communications specialist for an elected official who just got charged with a misdemeanor hit-and-run,” Rosen told viewers in a video posted Saturday on the TikTok social media platform. In the video, Rosen doesn’t detail why they chose to resign but said he planned to hike the Appalachian Trail.

Photos of the crash aftermath, obtained by WRAL last week, show a dark sedan partially atop a parked white car near the intersection of Hargett and Salisbury streets. The images detail front-end damage to the vehicles and offer illustrations of the incident aftermath described in police reports and by several people who called emergency dispatchers following the crash. (Source)

Press Release: Rocky Mount NAACP calls for resignation of North Carolina State Auditor

Rocky Mount, NC – The Rocky Mount Branch of the NAACP asks NC State Auditor Beth Woods to resign from her position immediately. Chapter President Elect Cooper Blackwell stated that “State Auditor Wood has made a practice of targeting small cities and towns in North Carolina led by predominately black elected and appointed officials with claims of abuse of power and lack of transparency. In fact, her claims of others are the mode of operation that she and her office typically employ. Now, the entire State of North Carolina and the United States have an opportunity to see the Beth Wood that we, in Rocky Mount and in other places, are accustomed to dealing with.”

Blackwell continued “She is a person who does not take responsibility for her own actions and will cloud reality with some blur of circumstance to divert attention from the truth. The truth is that on December 8^th, State Auditor Wood made an unsafe movement driving a state-owned car, hit and greatly damaged a private citizen’s vehicle, then fled the scene without notifying the owner of the vehicle or law enforcement. This action occurred over a month ago. The citizens of North Carolina are awaiting an answer as to why this holder of the State’s trust and ethics in sound fiscal policy has not offered a public explanation of her actions and prolonged silence.”

Blackwell concluded “We are certain her explanations will be as murky as her investigations and declarations have been. And, as usual, the targets of her actions have to pay the price that her ire demands. We ask that she comes forward, takes responsibility for her actions and resign her position as NC State Auditor.”

NC State Conference of Branches of the NAACP
Statement Regarding the Beth Woods/Lisa Barnes Racist Legislation
June 28, 2021

In the waning months of this year’s long session of the NC General Assembly, a bill was introduced in the NC Senate by a Nash County Republican legislator that promotes racial animus and targets duly elected Black officials under the guise of “transparency” and “accountability.” This bill, SB 473, was inspired by findings from a recent audit of the City of Rocky Mount initiated by NC’s State Auditor Beth Woods. Ms. Woods, encouraged by an active network of Trump supporters, local media personalities and vocal opponents of duly elected and appointed Black leadership, launched an investigation into the City of Rocky Mount that targeted two sitting City Council representatives, Andre’ Knight and Reuben Blackwell and the current City Manager, Rochelle Small-Toney as well as OIC, a community based non-profit, chaired by Knight and led by Blackwell, its CEO.
 
NC State Auditor Beth Woods surmised that Rocky Mount leaders are rife with corruption and influence peddling and concluded that Councilmembers Knight and Blackwell received financial benefits from their status and position as elected officials. Woods has continually and aggressively defended her findings that Knight owes $47,000 in unpaid utility bills that has been written off by the City, grants have been made to their friends and associates and that OIC unfairly received $8,000 for a roof grant in one of their medical facilities. That’s the narrative that Sen. Lisa Barnes has repeated as she convinced her fellow legislators that more transparency is needed in government and more power given to the State Auditor to rout out officials’ corrupt dealings.

***

Founded by a multi-racial alliance in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, with over 2,200 chapters, the NAACP is the largest and most preeminent civil rights organization in the nation. Our mission is to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.

I Support Young Folk But Why Do I Keep Receiving Negative Information?

Last week I heard that there was a big party at the Event Center and things got wild.

I keep hearing about some young guys who suppose to be mentors to young folk but they are in the news.

I keep hearing about some young folk who names are out there attached to negativity but they have not made the news yet. I repeat yet.

Young folk somebody know about your mess but you keep walking around here doing mess but say you are about the children.

But the sad part obviously these young folk outward appearance looks good but they have some mess they need to work on.

Folk you better check out these guys who say they are about your children.

If you are going to allow someone to mentor and/or work with your children, you better check them out.

These folk talking about some young folk are doing a good job.

I am tryna see something, what have they done because obviously I am ignant to the facts. So somebody educate me.

I’ll wait!

New photos show hit-and-run crash connected to NC auditor

Click on photo to watch video
I am tryna see something. Who has a wreck and leave the scene if they don’t have something to hide? So why would Beth leave the scene? Will we ever know the truth or will we have to assume?

Why take so long to hit the media?

Well I strongly feel I know what happened here. And all I got to say is “Wow!”

About The Children? Really!

Folk be sending me stuff that these guys post saying they are about the children and they are giving back. Really! But they be charging a fee for the children to participate.

Some of you guys could not mentor my damn dog if I had one.

I have videoed the children playing sports at SouthWest Edgecombe home and away games using my own camera equipment and my own vehicle dating back to the 90’s. The athletics tried to pay me but I didn’t accept any money. I just asked that I get free passes in the games.

So if you are doing something for the children and they have to pay when I don’t see a real cost, how are you truly giving back?

Somebody help me understand because there is a name for folk that does stuff in the name of one thing but they personally benefit.

I hear some negative stuff about some folk but I guess I am the only one that does. But maybe they do but they may be their friends, ignant to the facts and/or just don’t give a damn.

Time will tell! I’ll wait!

I Ask Questions, I Challenge When Most Folk Are Scared

You see when I am in the presence of folk be it in person, in meetings, organizations, church, on social media and other, I don’t have a problem with questioning and challenging folk.

I am bothered when folk say mess when I know they ain’t about what they are saying, but not only that, folk around me know it too.

But you see when I question and challenge folk, they don’t want to hear them trues. And the real reason why is because they have nothing on me. Why? Because I am not a fake. I say what I mean and mean what I say so they can’t come for me unless they make up something.

The reason why they have nothing on me is because when I leave home a red flag goes up, no money, sex or drugs because that is what folk want to see me get caught up so they can come for me. Well if there is something about me I am going to tell my story before others get to.

Folk say mess because they know folk are scared to question or challenge them.

So why are you trying to prove who you are when folk already know. You can fool some folk but not all folk.

Folk be true to yourself.

‘A car is on top of another car’: NC State Auditor Beth Wood faces hit-and-run charge

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood is facing a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge related to a December incident, according to court records and Wake County’s top prosecutor.

And newly obtained recording of 911 calls indicate the incident drew the attention of at least three callers, who both told dispatchers that there was a car on top of another car and that nobody was in the cars.

Wood was charged by Raleigh Police in December with misdemeanor hit and run resulting in property damage, Wake District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told WRAL on Wednesday. Wood, 68, was also cited with an unsafe movement infraction, Freeman said.

The incident happened on Dec. 8 shortly after 9 p.m. near the intersection of Salisbury and Hargett streets in downtown Raleigh, just a block away from Wood’s office, according to police and court records. Wood, 68, was driving a Toyota sedan and hit a parked 2016 Toyota sedan, according to police.

Wood was charged on Dec. 12, four days after the incident, records show. The car Wood was driving had a single-digit license plate, according to police. Such plates are issued to Council of State officials, the top statewide elected officers in North Carolina.

Wood declined to comment and referred questions to her lawyer, Roger Smith Jr. Smith didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Calls to 911 dispatchers, obtained by WRAL on Thursday, described the scene.

"I’m at the corner of Hargett and Salisbury, and there seems to be a car on top of another car," a female caller reporting the accident said in a recording of one of the calls. "Not completely, but two of the wheels are no longer on the ground, and the car is on and nobody’s in it."

At least three people called 911 to report the incident.

"A car is on top of another car," a male caller said to a dispatcher. He said the vehicle on top was a "state-owned vehicle."

Another male caller said a black Toyota "appears to have run into the other car and there’s nobody in either vehicle." The caller said there does not appear to be anyone injured anywhere near the vehicles.

Wood is scheduled to appear in administrative court on Jan. 26. “That is standard procedure for these types of cases,” Freeman said. “And this case will be handled as any other.”

Freeman declined to provide further details about the incident.

Wood, a Democrat, has served as state auditor since 2009 and was re-elected to her fourth term in 2020. She worked in the state auditor’s office for 10 years prior to her election. Her office conducts audits of state spending and processes. (Source)

Y’all I Am Having A Serious Problem With Tolerazation

Y’all I am having a serious problem with tolerazation. Made up word.

I am tired of being in the mist of some fake folk especially Church Folk be it in person and on social media.

I am who I am and don’t fake it. I go to church, I do what I do, I say what I mean and mean what I say and don’t sugar coat it.

So if you miss me, it is because I have eliminated myself from some folk because I just can no longer tolerate mess. It makes me sick on the stomach.

North Carolina Auditor, Democrat Beth Wood, charged with hit-and-run

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Democratic North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood is facing multiple charges after leaving the scene of a December crash, including hit-and-run, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman confirmed Wednesday night.

Wood, North Carolina’s auditor since 2009, is facing a Class 2 misdemeanor for hit-and-run, as well as, leaving the scene, property damage and an infraction for unsafe movement, Freeman told CBS 17. (Read more)

Condolences Goes Out To My Classmate Class Of 1981 Angela Pitt Pompey & The Entire Family Of The Late Linda Diana Battle Pitt Tarboro NC

Condolences goes out to my classmate Class of 1981 Angela Pitt Pompey and the entire family of the late Linda Diana Battle Pitt Tarboro NC.

Visit Willoughby Funeral Homes Inc. for more information.