Johnston, left, and Pierce
While the cases share nothing in common, other than they happened on the same day — last Friday —Captain Andy Jackson said it demonstrates how officers take each they receive seriously.
It also demonstrates the resources used in answering a bogus call. “It was just over two hours we spent,” Jackson said. “The cars used, the gas, the tracking devices that we used, I would say in that two hours we probably raked up $1,000.”
That is the nature of law enforcement, he said. “We take each call seriously. If we didn't take it seriously, if it was something wrong, it would be a bad reflection on us.”
The case, in which Heather Diane Johnston, 33, and her reputed former boyfriend, Lloyd Pierce Jr. were charged, ended up being one in which Johnston allegedly devised a ruse to irritate or strike out at her husband.
Jackson said police received a call around 11:15 a.m. from Johnston's husband they had an argument and she was staying with her grandmother's when he began receiving text messages that she was tied up and would be beaten and sexually assaulted. He then received a video text of her crying and asking for him to help her.
Jackson, Detective Jeff Baggett, Advanced Criminal Enforcement Agent John Taylor and Narcotics Agent Jamie Hardy began investigating the case.
Witnesses spotted Johnston getting into a car with Pierce. When Pierce was later questioned, he claimed he hadn't seen Johnston in several months.
Continued investigation led Roanoke Rapids police to the home of one of Pierce's relatives on Lincoln Street in Gaston.
It was there officers found Johnston hiding in the house, refusing to come out, and she and Pierce, both of Roanoke Rapids, were charged and jailed on $1,000 bonds. They have August 24 court dates.
Jackson said officers finished that investigation at 1:45 p.m. and were called to the rape which Clanton was charged in at 3 p.m.
There is to be no profanity and there is to be no character assassination even if the person being written about is a suspect in a crime.
Comments that presume knowledge of a person’s home life, financial situation or other personal details will be not be posted as will comments which presume legal knowledge.
All comments must be on the topic of the story and offer the reader’s insight on a particular issue. rrspin.com will cease posting comments if the editor determines readers are infighting with one another and not staying on the topic of a story.
rrspin.com prefers readers use their real names because anonymous posters are accountable for their comments just as readers who post their names are.