Lafayette Gatling was given a flexible option to settle his debt with the city, its attorney, Gilbert Chichester, said today.

In what Chichester said was not a “drop dead letter” the city would allow Gatling to pay his February debt on the Roanoke Rapids Theatre and allow him additional time to make his March payment.

Chichester would not divulge further terms of the proposal citing ongoing negotiations. He did confirm the terms the city is offering are fair to Gatling as well as the city. If the undisclosed deadline is not met the city could start default proceedings.

“We want the theater to work,” Chichester said.

As of this afternoon the city had not received Gatling’s payment. The total Gatling owes is $196,406.98, rrspin.com first reported last week. Half is for February and the remainder is for this month.

Reached Wednesday in Chicago Gatling said he was with a family discussing funeral arrangements and could not talk. He did say arrangements were being made to pay the debt. Returning a followup call this afternoon Gatling said he could still not immediately discuss the matter.

In updates contained in Tuesday’s city council agenda packet, the city said it was told the payment could be expected by the end of the week and notes additional information requested by Bank of America has been forwarded.

What started as a way to help the Christmas for Kids program has turned into a full time venture for Elizabeth Branham.

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District Attorney Melissa Pelfrey says Clarence Burgess Jr., charged in two Christmas season bank robberies, was released from jail on $8,000 bond because of miscommunication between her office and the clerk of courts office.

Pelfrey declined to elaborate but did tell rrspin.com “steps were being taken” to correct the miscommunication.

Burgess had his bond reduced from $1 million to $8,000 in two Christmas season bank robberies and was charged last Wednesday in a break-in at Chaloner Middle School and a burglary at Forest Hills apartments, the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said.

Burgess, 25, who was charged in the New Republic and First Citizens bank robberies, and Jermaine Hale, face charges of breaking and entering, larceny, possession of stolen property and felony conspiracy at Chaloner Middle School.

Burgess was also charged with felony possession of stolen property in the Forest Hills burglary. Hale, 23, was charged with second-degree burglary, possession of stolen goods and felony larceny.

Burgess was taken into custody and jailed on $100,000 bond. The property belonging to the school, computer equipment, was recovered. The police department has asked the district attorney’s office to revoke Burgess’s bank robbery bond.

Sometime after his arrest on the bank robbery charges in December, Burgess was released from jail on $8,000 bond after it was reduced from $1 million.

When he was arrested on the bank robbery charges, Burgess was abusive, made threats against police and used racial slurs as he was taken into custody.

A magistrate gave Burgess 30 days in jail for contempt of court.

A group of event planners hope to fill the Roanoke Rapids Theatre April 3 with an Easter party dubbed Bunnies in Stilettos.

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Citizen complaints led to a drug arrest today on Poplar Street in Scotland Neck.

Lieutenant Chuck Hasty of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said the narcotics unit received complaints and tips from Crimestoppers.

Agents arrested Laresha Donnese Williams of Scotland Neck at the house and she was charged with possession of marijuana. She has a court date of May 5 and her bond was $500. 

Agents seized marijuana and other drug paraphernalia from the house.

Weldon Police Department Officer Chris Buffaloe and his dog Tyson assisted in the investigation.