The number of DWI arrests in the city surpassed last year’s total mark of 38 when a Charlotte man was charged this morning.

Roanoke Rapids police Chief Shane Guyant also said this time last year the department had made 17 arrests.

The 39th DWI arrest came around 2 this morning when PACE Officer J. Conrad noticed a vehicle with an expired plate near Cardinal Drive.

When pulling over the vehicle the driver, Timothy Edwards Berends, 48, nearly struck the curb. Guyant said Conrad could immediately smell the odor of alcohol inside the vehicle.

Berends performed poorly on Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and was determined to be impaired.

He was placed under arrest for DWI with assistance from Lieutenant D.W. Jenkins and Master Officer C. Majette. 

A breath sample at the police department showed Berends registered a .10.

Berends was charged with DWI, reckless driving with wanton disregard, open container, and expired registration. 

He received a $1,000 bond and August 2 court date. Halifax County Detention Center records do not show him as still in custody.

Other DWIs

Sunday — Officer M. Morris charged William George Lias, 61, with DWI and expired registration.

He was charged after Morris observed a Cadillac in the roadway at Old Farm Road and Highway 158 with one headlamp illuminated shortly before 10:45 p.m.

Lias, of Roanoke Rapids, has a July 19 district court date.

Saturday — A Halifax County magistrate charged Darius Jaquan Robertson, 33, with the following:

Possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II narcotic

Maintain a vehicle for the sale of controlled substances

Two counts felony possession of cocaine 

DWI

Driving while license revoked

Reckless driving to endanger

Two counts failure to stop at stop sign 

The charges stem from a stop made by Lieutenant M. Hunsucker around 3:30 that morning.

Hunsucker observed Robertson operating a Camaro and running the stop sign at Marshall and East Sixth streets at a high rate of speed.  

Robertson drove into the Aquatic Center parking lot and almost collided with the building. He then backed up and exited onto Carolina Street at a high rate of speed.  

Hunsucker attempted to conduct a vehicle stop. 

Robertson exited the roadway with all four tires in the grass and dirt of Long Park. 

Robertson got the vehicle back onto the roadway and almost lost control. He ran the stop sign at Carolina and Fifth streets before stopping in the 400 block of Carolina Street.

With assistance from Master Officer D. Norfleet and B Squad as well as Sergeant B. Murphy and his dog Raven of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, two clear bags containing powder and crack cocaine were located.

Robertson has an August 29 district court date.

Saturday — Norfleet conducted a stop on a vehicle driven by Wesley Benjamin Algoe, 22, of Yorktown, Virginia.

Algoe was driving without headlamps on Julian R. Allsbrook Highway around 2:30 a.m.

Norfleet detected the odors of marijuana and alcohol.

The search of the vehicle yielded a small amount of marijuana.

He was charged with DWI and simple possession. He has a July 12 district court date.

June 21 — Norfleet investigated a single-vehicle crash on Premier Boulevard in which Ronnie Darnell Smith, 57, of Halifax, traveled off the roadway and struck a curb, flattening the tires on his vehicle.

Smith’s license was suspended from an April DWI conviction in Halifax County.

He was charged with DWI, driving while license revoked, impaired revocation and reckless driving.

He has a July 12 district court date.