Press Releases

The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Bruce Hodges as the new warden of the Tyrrell Prison Work Farm in Columbia. Hodges had been Prisons’ Program Development Coordinator and Project Manager in Raleigh since 2019.
In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, ALE special agents concluded a statewide enforcement operation on Friday resulting in over 200 persons charged and seizures of alcoholic beverages, drugs, firearms and cash. 
Secretary Erik A. Hooks has announced the promotion of Jane Ammons Gilchrist to Chief of Staff for the department. In this position, Chief Gilchrist will be taking on an expanded role in helping Secretary Hooks lead the department.
Offender Jon F. Coffey (#0703029) died April 22, 2021 at Pamlico Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in a cell at 12:59 p.m. Prison medical staff worked to resuscitate the offender while EMS was called. He was pronounced dead by local paramedics on their arrival to the scene. DPS officials and the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Department are conducting investigations.
La Administración para la Recuperación y Resiliencia de Carolina del Norte (NCORR), una división del Departamento de Seguridad Pública de NC (NCDPS), ha nombrado a la Dra. Amanda Martin como oficial estatal en jefe de resiliencia. En su nuevo cargo, Martin dirigirá los esfuerzos del Programa de Resiliencia NCORR hacia el incremento de la resiliencia de NC frente a desastres naturales futuros y frente al cambio climático.
The State of North Carolina and FEMA have approved $7,961,076 to reimburse the North Carolina Department of Transportation for road and bridge repairs in Harnett, Robeson and Stanly counties after Hurricane Florence in 2018. Funding from FEMA’s Public Assistance program includes $1,622,319 for Harnett, $2,585,625 for Robeson and $1,762,862 for Stanly, for a total of $5,970,807. The state’s share for the projects totals $1,990,269.  The grants bring the total to more than $89 million to reimburse the Transportation Department for Hurricane Florence-related expenses.
Following multiple fights and a recent stabbing, a Greensboro restaurant is without ABC permits. On Sunday, April 11, 2021, four individuals arrived at a local Guilford County hospital suffering from stab wounds. All of them admitted they came from Tranquilo, located at 221 Elm Street, but never contacted law enforcement. On Tuesday, April 13, 2021, officers with the Greensboro Police Department responded to Tranquilo regarding a large fight amongst patrons.
A Charlotte bar is without ABC permits following repeated incidents of violence which included assaults on law enforcement. Since March 26, 2021, officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department have responded to The Press Box Bar and Grille, 9609 Tryon Street Suite A in Charlotte, for two calls of shots fired and other incidents where patrons were injured. Most recently, CMPD officers attempted to render first aid to a gunshot victim, but were obstructed by the crowd and an employee from The Press Box Bar and Grille.
RALEIGH -- Gov. Roy Cooper has proclaimed April 18-24 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week in North Carolina. Coinciding with the 40th Annual National Crime Victims’ Week, the NC Department of Public Safety Office of Victim Services and affiliated agencies will show support for the victims and survivors of crime throughout the state.
A Charlotte bartender has been criminally charged after an impaired patron left the business and was seriously injured in a car crash. On the evening of Monday, February 22, 2021, troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to a vehicle crash with serious injuries on Crowell Dairy Road near Old Dutch Road. As a result of the SHP investigation, ALE was contacted to further assist due to the suspected involvement of alcohol in the collision. ALE special agents began to re-trace the suspect driver’s actions that night to find where she became intoxicated.