Press Releases

Agents with the State Bureau of Investigation arrested a Gates County sheriff’s deputy on Friday, May 26, on sexual assault charges of a prisoner in his custody, and his case went before a Grand Jury in Hertford County this morning. Deputy Patrick Batts, a six-month employee of the Gates County Sheriff’s Office, is charged with sexual contact by a custodian, obstruction of justice and first degree sexual offense.

Severe storms and tornadoes swept through North Carolina late Wednesday evening, damaging homes, toppling trees, closing roads and knocking out power to several Piedmont communities. “We’re extremely fortunate that there were no life-threatening injuries from this band of storms that struck North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “It’s heartening to see community volunteers and first responders working so effectively to help communities that suffered damage.”

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named David Millis as the new superintendent at Hyde Correctional Institution in Swan Quarter. Millis is a 19-year corrections veteran who most recently served as assistant superintendent for custody and operations at Bertie Correctional Institution.  He began his career as a correctional officer at Pamlico Correctional Institution in 1998 and worked there for most of his career, advancing to the rank of captain.

Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies joined forces this week in Guilford County for Operation Arrow, a four-day operation than ran May 8-11 to serve outstanding criminal warrants and conduct searches of high-risk felons on probation or parole supervision.   Officers made 64 arrests, which included 37 absconders from probation or parole supervision. Firearms or ammunition were seized from 13 individuals who should not have possessed them and significant quantities of drugs and drug paraphernalia were confiscated during the week.

The State Highway Patrol will conduct a memorial service offering tribute to the 62 members who have fallen in the line of duty since 1929. Col. Glenn McNeill will provide remarks prior to a wreath dedication to take place at the SHP memorial.   WHAT: SHP Memorial Service WHERE: SBI Auditorium 3318 Garner Rd.

Inmate Dennis Dickerson (#0940575) died this morning at Pender Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. Dickerson was found unresponsive in his cell at about 6:07 a.m. Prison medical staff and local paramedics responded and worked to resuscitate the inmate, but were unsuccessful. Dickerson was serving a 6-year, 10-month sentence after convictions as a habitual felon and for possession of a firearm by a felon. He was scheduled to be released on July 15, 2022.  

Sgt. Meggan Callahan Funeral Service; Service begins at Noon, Thursday, May 4

North Carolina is one of only eight states nationwide selected to participate in a learning lab to find better ways to fight opioid addiction among prison inmates, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

On April 26, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Correctional Sgt. Meggan Lee Callahan, 29, responded to a trash can fire in a dormitory of Bertie Correctional Institution, Windsor. Sgt. Callahan got a fire extinguisher and attempted to put out the fire. Inmate Craig Wissink immediately attacked the sergeant and a struggle ensued. Wissink managed to get the fire extinguisher away from Sgt. Callahan and used it in the assault. Sgt. Callahan sustained injuries from the attack, which ultimately led to her death.

The Department of Public Safety today during an open house offered community leaders and elected officials their first view of the renovated Lenoir Youth Development Center in Kinston. Officials with the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice will open the new center on May 15 to provide safer, more secure and more efficient care for committed youth in North Carolina.