The Roanoke Rapids Police Department reported the following, according to interim Chief Bobby Martin:
On Monday at approximately 10:05 p.m., officers and the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department responded to Hawkins Gin after an “observant citizen” passing by noticed a cotton module on fire and called Halifax Central.
The fire department put the fire out before too much damage was caused.
Martin said the fire appeared to be suspicious as the origin was at the base of the module.
There have been cases where fire starts within the module because of heat build-up but Martin said this does appear to be the case in this call.
The module was delivered to the gin around 6 p.m.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police department at 252-533-2810 or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.
On Monday at approximately 2:06 p.m., Officer J. Shelburne took a report from a local business about obtaining property by false pretense and financial transaction card theft.
Shelburne learned through his investigation a person transferred money from the business into a personal account using a debit card. Martin confirmed the person charged, Vickie Bunn, 42, of Roanoke Rapids, was not an employee of the business.
Bunn was successful in using a PayPal account and Google pay account to fraudulently obtain around $225 from the stolen card.
Shelburne charged Bunn with obtain property by false pretense and financial card theft,
Bunn was arrested and carried before a magistrate where she received a $4,000 bond and March 6 court date.
“Officer Shelburne did an outstanding job following up with this case and obtaining warrants for the victim,” Martin said in a statement.
On Monday at approximately 12:48 a.m., the police department responded to a residence in the area of Great Falls Circle area to follow up on suspicious activity involving drugs.
Officer C. Batchelor encountered the homeowner, was familiar with one of the other occupants and checked for outstanding warrants.
Batchelor was notified the person had several outstanding warrants for drug-related charges. Batchelor arrested Carroll Beckelman III, 29, on the outstanding warrants.
During the search of Beckelman a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine was found. Beckelman was issued a citation for the drug paraphernalia and carried before a magistrate and served warrants for possession of methamphetamine, possession of schedule 1 controlled substance, possession of schedule IV controlled substance, possession of schedule VI, and two counts possession of drug paraphernalia.
He received a $4,000 bond and Wednesday court date.
“Officer Batchelor did a great job responding to complaints from citizens and finding this subject who was wanted on several outstanding warrants,” Martin said.
