A man brought in for processing for DWI was also charged with stealing an officer’s body camera which had been placed on a table to record the encounter at the Roanoke Rapids Police Department Tuesday.

Chief Bobby Martin said the body camera recorded Reginold Graves, 52, taking the camera during processing for the DWI.

Graves, of the Roanoke Rapids area, had been driving around 1:30 p.m. in the area of East Tenth Street and Park Avenue as officers noticed him going through the intersection in a careless and reckless manner.

Officers activated blue lights and sirens and attempted to stop the man due to speed and careless driving. Graves nearly struck another vehicle in the rear as it turned from the Forest Hills Shopping Center lot.

Martin said Graves swerved into oncoming traffic and continued to travel west on Tenth Street.

The driver was slow to stop until it reached heavy traffic around the Discount Tire area. Graves stopped on the sidewalk — almost in the grass.

In the encounter with Graves on Tenth Street, Martin said officers were met with the overwhelming odor of alcohol coming from the driver. He was also unsteady and appeared to be intoxicated.

During investigation officers learned Graves had a revoked license from a DWI stop on January 30. Court records show he is scheduled to appear in Northampton County District Court on April 20 to answer to those charges.

He was carried before a magistrate and charged with DWI.

As he was processed, he attempted to steal an activated body camera by placing it in his pocket.

The officer noticed the camera was gone and located it in Graves’ pocket. The larceny was recorded by the camera.

Graves was charged with DWI, driving while license revoked and larceny.

He was released to a responsible person and received a March 8 court date in Halifax County.

PACE Officer J. DeSare assisted.