Press Releases

Today during its quarterly meeting, the Governor’s Crime Commission discussed  prison management practices and efforts to improve safety at North Carolina prisons.

What: Governor's Crime Commission Quarterly Meeting When: Thursday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Governor’s Crime Commission, First Floor Conference Room, 1201 Front St., Raleigh

RALEIGH – Governor Roy Cooper has declared Dec. 3 - 9 as Winter Weather Preparedness Week and is urging North Carolinians to plan, prepare and be ready for potentially dangerous winter weather in the months ahead.  

A new law goes into effect today that helps increase public safety at prisons in North Carolina. As of Dec. 1, it is illegal to fly unmanned aircraft systems, also called drones, 250 feet above and within 500 feet of correctional facilities. Under the new law, those who use drones to try to sneak cell phones, weapons or other contraband material into a correctional facility can be charged with a felony. People who simply fly drones near prisons can be charged with misdemeanors.

Governor Roy Cooper today announced that Disaster Recovery Centers will open this week to help Caldwell and Wilkes county residents who were affected by storms that struck in late October. The two centers join the already announced Disaster Loan Outreach Center that opens today in Watauga County to provide financial assistance to storm survivors.

Inmate Terry Poole (#0694086) died Tuesday evening at Lanesboro Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in his cell at about 6:20 p.m. Prison medical staff and local paramedics responded and worked to resuscitate the inmate, but were unsuccessful. Poole, 36, was sentenced in Lee County in 2005 and had a 24-year sentence for second degree murder. He was scheduled to be released in October 2023.

Department of Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks today announced the addition of three new members to his leadership team. Susanna Davis will serve as Legislative Affairs Director for the department, Alicia Davis (no relation) will serve as Legislative Counsel and Mike Daniska is the Director of Policy and Planning.

Approximately 74 federal, state, and local officers combined forces this week in Wayne County to seek subjects wanted on outstanding warrants and to conduct searches of high-risk individuals under the supervision of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. This effort resulted in 30 arrests and 42 warrants served, for a total of 60 charges cleared. Additionally, officers seized two firearms, 178 rounds of ammunition, and quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana.

Correctional staff from Wake County and local law enforcement are searching for escaped inmate Larry J. Locklear (#0245809). Locklear, 66, who was on a work assignment, is a minimum custody inmate serving a sentence at Wake Correctional Center as a habitual felon. His projected release date was October 2021.

Secretary Erik A. Hooks today met with employees at Pasquotank Correctional Institution to listen to ideas, observations and concerns following the violent attack Oct. 12 that resulted in the deaths of four employees. As part of his visit to the prison, he also took a tour of the facility and met with staff at all levels. The Secretary had a brief message for employees, but his primary goal was to listen to them and hear what was on their minds.