Press Releases

A Scotland Correctional Institution offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital. “His death is tragic, and we are continuing to work hard to minimize 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 is our top priority.” The offender tested positive for the virus on Aug. 27. He was hospitalized on Sept. 1. His conditioned worsened and he died on Sept. 25 around 1:40 a.m.
Yesterday, ALE charged a man from Elizabeth City after he hosted an illegal party where a patron was shot and killed.  On September 13, 2020, deputies with the Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office responded to 118 Miller Street in Hertford after receiving numerous calls for shots fired. Law enforcement arrived to find more than 200 partygoers inside the building. A male patron suffering from a gunshot wound was transported to the hospital where he later died.
Yesterday, after a history of violence and a recent homicide at a Greensboro bar, the owner surrendered his ABC permits to ALE.  Over the weekend, ALE was contacted after officers with the Greensboro Police Department responded to Micheladas Merendero Sports Bar for a shooting which left one patron dead. The location is known for numerous aggravated assaults and gang activity.  During the course of ALE’s investigation, the permittee, Luis Alberto Molina, 40, voluntarily surrendered his ABC permits. 
A newly committed offender with pre-existing medical conditions, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died at a hospital. The offender was hospitalized prior to being admitted to the state prison system and assigned to Central Prison on Sept. 15, per a court order signed by a Durham County judge on Sept. 14. The offender, who never physically entered a prison, died at the hospital on Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m. He was admitted to the hospital on Aug. 20.
A Greensboro bar raided, the owner charged and over 100 liters of alcohol were seized after an ALE investigation. The Greensboro venue, Ambiance Events Center, was previously an ABC-permitted business on Teague Street. But after a deadly shooting over Labor Day Weekend, the owner, Lawerence Chandler, was criminally charged and surrendered the business’ ABC permits to ALE.  On Friday, September 11, 2020, ALE received information from Greensboro Police Department that the business appeared to be openly selling alcohol without permits at fully capacity. 
Following a homicide over the Labor Day weekend, a Greensboro bar owner has been criminally charged and surrendered his ABC permits to ALE special agents.  ALE responded to the Ambiance Events Center, located at 508 Teague Street, after a shooting left one patron dead and one injured. The violence stemmed from a large fight inside the business which spilled out into the parking lot. 
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.