Jonathan Brown is in jail on a $75,750 bond, charged in the fatal Aug. 29 wreck in which his brother was killed. Sgt. Will Shaw of the Weldon Police Department said Brown, 21, was picked up by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office late Wednesday afternoon at the courthouse. Officers had been looking for Brown when after his initial arrest he was released on his written promise to appear because of a medical condition sustained in the crash. Nearly two weeks ago more charges were filed against Brown, whose brother, 19-year-old Jeremy Lemuel Harvey of Halifax, was killed. Harvey was buried Sept. 8. Brown was charged with felony death by motor vehicle, felony assault, fail to obey police and firemen, damage to property, resist, delay and obstruct, failure to carry drivers license, failure to stop at stop sign, speeding 65 mph in a 25 mph zone, unsafe speed, failure to decrease speed to avoid an accident and driving on sidewalk. The death by motor vehicle charge reflects Brown, of Weldon, was allegedly impaired at the time his brother was killed, while the assault charge reflects he was allegedly impaired when a passenger, Willie Ray Pittman, was injured in the crash. Resist, delay and obstruct and failure to obey emergency personnel charges reflect Brown ignored their warnings to sit down and kept trying to pick up and shake his brother. Brown already faces charges of DWI, careless and reckless driving, driving while license revoked and driving left of center. Harvey was ejected from the vehicle following the crash, which occurred around 10:27 p.m. at the intersection of Elm and Sixth streets in town. When officers arrived Brown was holding his brother in his arms and crying, apologizing for what he allegedly did. The crash occurred when Brown, along with Harvey and Pittman, were coming back from the county. Brown was allegedly driving the vehicle approximately 65 mph in a 25 mph zone when the vehicle crossed the center line, struck a utility pole with a transformer on it, splitting the pole, and then knocking down a stop sign. The crash knocked power out for a period of time. The vehicle rolled over once, ejecting Harvey and then landed upright. Witnesses told police the engine compartment began smoking and it became engulfed in flames as officers arrived. Brown and Pittman got out of the car safely but Pittman sustained a broken arm, collar bone and had bones broken in his chest.
A proposed solid waste transfer station in Roanoke Rapids could come with a recycling package, city Public Works Director Richard Parnell told The Spin today. His comments came after the website asked about the state’s plastic bottle ban and how that could impact the proposed project. The Greensboro News & Record reported on Oct. 1 it will be illegal for plastic bottles to find their way into North Carolina landfills. The paper reported in theory, that ban will help more of the 288 million pounds of soda containers, milk jugs and detergent bottles Tar Heels toss out every year find their way to recycling centers. North Carolinians throw away roughly four of every five bottles. Because of the upcoming ban, Parnell said the city wants to explore the possibility of adding a drop-off recycling center to the transfer station proposal. “Richard will factor that (the ban) into the weight estimates,” City Manager Paul Sabiston said in an email correspondence with The Spin. “He may have to determine its impact after a few months of real experience following the start of that rule.” Parnell said he will be going through and revising numbers originally given city council and administrative staff on the proposed transfer station. “The numbers we gave them were for last year,” he said. “We also need to talk about financing options.” If the transfer station is built, Parnell said it would most likely require one fulltime and one parttime employee. The original proposal was made using existing personnel and equipment. “We’ve got to look at the logistics,” he said. City council has agreed to begin exploring possibilities of a transfer station to bring in more revenue, a measure that could possibly bring in anywhere from $80,000 to $130,000 a year. It could also have the potential to reduce the city’s annual solid waste fee, which is currently $188 a year. Getting to construction of one, however, is probably something which will take three to four months of study and possibly six months before a decision is made. Estimated cost of construction is $750,000 and the city would consider building close to its maintenance yard on Hinson Street. Before any decision is made the city needs to determine preliminary engineering and permitting costs, total engineering costs and estimated construction costs. It also needs to determine projected expenses and revenues as well as consider any legal issues with its operation and explore financing options.
The man wanted in an Aug. 29 fatal car crash appears to be “running and hiding” the Weldon Police Department said this morning. “I don’t know if he is fleeing,” Sgt. Will Shaw said, but officers have been looking for Jonathan James Brown, 21, since more charges were lodged against him two weeks ago.
Roanoke Rapids police arrested a man in a shooting that occurred this morning, Chief Jeff Hinton said, and also arrested his girlfriend for allegedly beating him.
