Press Releases
An offender housed at Scotland Correctional Institution who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by COVID-19.
“His death is sad and tragic, and we are continuing our efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders in our custody remains our top priority.”
As Labor Day fast approaches, increased congestion across the state is expected as motorists travel to their intended vacation destinations. With this in mind, the State Highway Patrol is stressing the importance of sober driving throughout the holiday weekend.
The State of North Carolina and FEMA have approved $1.9 million to reimburse the North Carolina Department of Transportation for debris removal costs following Hurricane Florence.
Funds for this project cover the removal hurricane-related debris in Johnston, Wayne and Wilson counties. More than 2,000 tons of hurricane-related debris were removed from NCDOT roads and public property.
The approval brings the total to more than $49 million to reimburse the NCDOT for Hurricane Florence-related expenses.
A minimum custody offender was captured today at a hotel in High Point, three days after he walked off his prison job assignment.
Wake Correctional Center offender Michael Lee Willis-Rockett (#1297881) was taken into custody around 9 a.m. by Department of Public Safety officials.
Willis-Rockett was identified at Hotel NC in High Point. He was given away by his distinctive tattoos.
Offender Tommy R. Goins (#0148783) died Saturday morning at Alexander Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide.
He was found unresponsive in his cell at 5:32 a.m.
Prison medical staff and responded and performed life-saving measures in attempts to resuscitate the offender. Local EMS arrived at 5:52 a.m. and pronounced him dead. Local law enforcement was notified and DPS is investigating the incident.
An offender at Scotland Correctional Institution died this morning, and two others were sent to the hospital, after a fight involving seven offenders in a single housing unit cell.
Offender Mario S. Organistas (#1224015) was stabbed to death with a homemade weapon after he and five other offenders entered another offender’s cell around 10:30 a.m., apparently as part of a dispute.
State correctional and local law enforcement officers are seeking Wake Correctional Center minimum custody offender Michael Lee Willis-Rockett (#1297881), who was reported missing from his prison job assignment this morning.
He was last seen wearing green pants and either a grey or white tee-shirt around 9:50 a.m. at the Department of Public Safety’s Correction Enterprise warehouse in Apex, where the offender worked a prison job loading trucks of supplies for the prison system.
The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Ronnie “Lane” Huneycutt as warden at the Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution in Spruce Pine. Huneycutt, 50, had been the associate warden at Caldwell Correctional Center in Lenoir since 2015.
“Warden Huneycutt is a terrific addition to our team of wardens,” said Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons. “He is a professional with more than 20 years of experience, in-depth knowledge of prison operations, and he has excellent organizational skills and leadership qualities.”
Airmen and Soldiers from across the country gathered at the North Carolina National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, to witness Capt. Stephen Scott, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Eric Carver, both of the 1-130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (1-130th ARB) receive the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor award on August 18, 2020.
Governor Roy Cooper has declared August as North Carolina Preparedness Month, encouraging individuals, families, schools and businesses to review their emergency plans and update their emergency supply kits.
“Facing a hurricane, a deadly tornado and an earthquake in the same week reminds us that North Carolinians need to be prepared for all kinds of emergencies, especially as we continue fighting COVID-19,” Governor Cooper said.“Be sure to go over your family’s emergency plan and include cloth face masks for each member of your family in your emergency supply kit.”