Press Releases

See Update Below 8:57 a.m. - At approximately 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday, October 17, a state trooper stopped a white GMC pickup truck for a speeding violation on US 701 near Sellers Town Rd in Columbus County.  The driver of the pickup pulled over onto the shoulder and the trooper made his initial approach.  The driver of the pickup then fired several shots, striking the trooper.  

State correctional and local law enforcement officers are seeking Hoke Correctional Institution minimum custody inmate Cul P. Jones (#0214939), who was reported missing from the facility Sunday night at about 7:45 p.m.

Governor Roy Cooper announced two more storm related deaths from Tropical Storm Michael were confirmed in McDowell County today. A man and a woman died after their car hit a large tree that had fallen across a road in Marion. That brings the North Carolina death toll from Michael to three. “We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the loved ones and friends of those killed,” Gov. Cooper said. “We urge everyone to remain safe. While the storm has moved on, there is still much clean up and repair to be done.”

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety family will never forget October 12, 2017. On that day at Pasquotank Correctional Institution, four heroes -- Veronica Darden, Geoffrey Howe, Wendy Shannon and Justin Smith – were viciously assaulted and ultimately lost their lives fulfilling their duties as public servants.

As Tropical Storm Michael’s punishing winds and rains sweep across North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper announced that the storm has claimed the life of a man who died this afternoon in Iredell County when a tree fell on his vehicle. Governor Cooper warned all North Carolinians to remain cautious and alert and to avoid going out in the storm if possible “As night falls, please don’t go out unless you have to,” Gov. Cooper said. “Falling trees and rising waters, along with landslides in our mountains, are making travel difficult and even life-threatening in some areas.”

WHAT: N.C. Prison Reform Advisory Board Meeting DATE/TIME: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. WHERE: Governor’s Crime Commission, Room 100, 1201 Front St., Raleigh

North Carolina renters who face eviction or have been evicted from their storm-damaged apartment complex—whether their unit had damage or not—may be eligible for disaster assistance from FEMA.

Offender David Atkins (#1465138) died Oct. 1 at Piedmont Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 7:48 p.m. Prison medical staff and local paramedics responded and worked to resuscitate the offender. He was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. at the facility.

At approximately 8:40 a.m. today at Scotland Correctional Institution, inmate Cadarius Thomas (#0821718) was involved in an assault on one correctional employee. Additional staff were called in to assist. The employee was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Inmate Thomas was treated locally at the Scotland medical facility. The assault occurred in the canteen area of a housing unit at the prison. That housing unit has been placed on lock down.

Initial estimates for crop damage and livestock losses to North Carolina’s agriculture industry are expected to be over $1.1 billion, based on assessments following Hurricane Florence. That number easily tops the $400 million seen following Hurricane Matthew in 2016.