The boy, D'Angelo Rawls, reportedly got in more trouble following his arrest, for kicking and slapping a deputy, according to Captain Chuck Hasty of the Northampton County Sheriff's Office.

Shortly after 1:45 a.m., Lieutenant David Twine and Deputy Patrick Jacobs responded to a domestic call on Conwell Road.

Deputies had been to residence earlier when the victim claimed the boy was acting unruly and made threats against law enforcement.

After law enforcement left the the first time, Rawls allegedly went to his mother's bedroom and began to assault her.

Rawls reportedly left after the victim called 911. Jacobs and Twine returned later and arrested Rawls for the assault.

At the magistrate's office, Rawls reportedly became disruptive and kicked Jacobs on the foot and slapped his hands, cursing during the processing.

He was charged with assault and battery, communicating threats and assault on a government official. He was given 30 days in jail for contempt and a $3,000 bond for the other charges. He has an October 27 court date.

On Sunday shortly after 2:30 a.m. Lieutenant David Twine responded to Vincent Lane in Henrico for an assault call.

Twine was speaking with one of the victims when Takisha Watson, 27. of Henrico allegedly became verbally abusive towards everyone and began to kick one of the victims.

Twine handcuffed Watson in an attempt to control her, but she allegedly spit on another victim at the residence.

Watson continued to be abusive and make threats. Twine placed her in the back of his patrol vehicle. While Twine continued to investigate, Watson was able to escape and fled the scene.

Twine and Sheriff Jack Smith searched the area for her and called for assistance from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety bloodhounds.

Twine and the victims went to obtain warrants on Watson while Sergeant Jimmy Pair and Deputy Chris Hamm continued the search.

Pair and Hamm located and arrested Watson, charging her with assault and battery, communicating threats, injury to property, larceny and resisting a public officer.

Watson was given a $3,500 bond and a court date of October 27.

Saturday assault

On Saturday shortly before 10:45 p.m, Deputy Michael Sledge responded to Endie Scott Trail in the Garysburg area to investigate an assault.

Sledge spoke with the victim who told him that she was at a party with Ricky Maurice Barber, 41, of Garysburg, when there was an argument about leaving the party.

The victim was allegedly assaulted by Barber and then left the area with her car and children.

The victim was transported to Halifax Regional Medical Center by EMS for the treatment of her injuries.

Captain Chuck Hasty went to the hospital to speak with the victim.

Hasty gained enough information to obtain warrants on Barber for assault on a female.

Information was sent out to local agencies in Northampton and Halifax counties to try to find Barber and the children.

Sledge located the victim’s car behind a residence on Monroe Street in Garysburg.

Sledge spoke with an uncooperative man at the residence about trying to locate the children and check on their welfare, but the man refused to help.

When the man tried to go back into the residence, someone had locked the door and he could not get in. Hasty applied for and was granted a search warrant for the residence.

When the warrant was executed officers located Barber and arrested him without incident.

Law enforcement also found the children asleep and safe. Barber was charged with assault on a female and he was not given a bond at the time of the arrest .

He has a court date of October 23.

October 7 assault

Shortly before 6 p.m., Pair and Hamm responded to Genus Garner Lane in Pleasant Hill for a domestic disturbance but did not find anyone at the residence.

They did find signs of some kind of altercation at the residence.

During their investigation they learned that one subject had been cut and was transported to the hospital by private vehicle.

Pair and Hamm spoke with the mother of the possible victim.

The mother told deputies that her grandson came over and told her that there was a fight at the residence.

Hasty responded to Halifax Regional Medical Center to speak with the victim.

The victim told Hasty there was an argument between her and Rakim Akeem Taylor, 23, of Pleasant Hill where he allegedly pushed her several times.

At some point she got a knife and tried to get Taylor to leave the residence.

There was a struggle over the knife and that is when her hand was cut.

Hasty arrested Taylor at the hospital with the assistance of Roanoke Rapids Police Officers Roy Ball, Chris Babb and Matt Hunsucker

The victim was treated for the injuries and released.

Taylor was not given a bond and has a court date on October 27.

“We as people need to try to work out our differences and not try to handle things in a fashion that could turn out with someone getting hurt even if it is unintentional,” Smith said in a statement. “ If the parties can’t work it out by talking it out, it may be best if someone leaves to let things cool down.”

Roanoke Chowan S.A.F.E. is available for individuals that are going through domestic violence and sexual assault issues in Northampton County.

They have a 24-hour crisis hotline that individuals can call to receive services — 252-534-1779 or 252-332-1933.

Prior to his service at HCC, Edmonds was most recently the director of business development at E.R. Abernathy Industrial.

He has held leadership positions with Johnson & Johnson and IBM during his extensive corporate career.

During the course of his career, Edmonds has served on numerous community boards with emphasis placed on economic development and causes beneficial to youth and elderly populations.

Edmonds earned a bachelor of business administration with an emphasis on marketing from Marshall University and a master of science with an emphasis on human service management from Springfield College.

Detective Frankie Griffin said the victim either lost or had the card stolen while at Walmart.

On September 6 the man in the photo reportedly used at a local grocery store to buy the items.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police department at 252-533-2810 or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.

Partnering with NC Broadband, a division of the North Carolina Department of Commerce, and ECC Technologies, Halifax County is gathering information on the number of households and businesses currently lacking service that are interested in purchasing it.

Part of this effort is a short broadband service survey asking residents to provide basic information regarding the availability of broadband Internet service at their home or business.

The survey consists of five simple questions and home address information and is designed to obtain service demand information related to the presence or absence of broadband service throughout the county or the need to improve current service levels.

“Many citizens in the remote areas of Halifax County don’t have broadband service at home,” County Manager Tony Brown said. “With recent legislation requiring North Carolina schools to convert to digital textbooks by 2017, broadband will be a critical component of education for the future.”

The survey is available by following this link. Paper copies of the survey are available at city and town halls, public libraries, Halifax Community College, the Halifax County Managers Office, Halifax County Cooperative Extension, Halifax County Health Department, Halifax County Department of Social Services and other locations.

The Halifax Library, located at 33 Granville Street in Halifax, will have computers available for citizens to complete the survey online.

All surveys should be returned to these locations by November 15.

“Halifax County encourages residents to complete this survey. The availability and use of high

speed internet is critical for education, health care, economic development, and government services,” Brown said.

Halifax County and the state Department of Commerce staff will identify those areas of Halifax County lacking broadband Internet service and will share this information with internet service providers and work with them to expand internet service in the county.

 For additional information, please contact the Halifax County Manager’s Office at 252-583- 1131.

“The license was returned so they did get married,” county Register of Deeds Judy Evans-Barbee said this morning.

While there have been several calls following the ruling last week by a federal judge that ended the state's gay marriage ban, only one couple, the couple which got married Tuesday, applied, she said.

Monday was the first full day that same-sex marriages could be performed, state media outlets reported.

The Associated Press reported that United District Court Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr., in Asheville issued a ruling Friday shortly after 5 p.m. declaring the ban approved by state voters in 2012 unconstitutional.

The county Register of Deeds Office could not give the name of the couple over the phone.

Asked if he had anything to say as he was led to the magistrate's office for booking in the murder of 15-year-old Keyuon Garner and the shooting of two other people in August, he said, “Get it.”

Asked again he said, “Nothing.”

Anderson was brought to the Halifax County Sheriff's Office this afternoon following his arrest in the Long Island hamlet of Roosevelt, New York, September 18, where he apparently fled following the murder of Garner and the attempted murders of Wilson Green and Calvin Robinson the evening of August 4 in the South Weldon area known as The Strip.

Garner's murder is believed to have sparked the murder of 2-year-old Dy'Uanna Anderson and the shooting of her grandmother on Cedar Street in Weldon the following morning, authorities have said.

Anderson was booked on a count of murder and two counts of attempted murder and was jailed without the opportunity for bond pending an October 22 court date. He also faces unrelated drug counts.

Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said he was glad to have Anderson in custody in the county. “Our case has become stronger and stronger as each day goes by. Detectives are continuing to follow up on leads. As individuals are in jail, informants are more willing to speak.”

Tripp said physical evidence continues to be collected in the case. He declined to elaborate beyond what has already been said about motive in the case.

Lieutenant Anzell Harris of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that around 1:30 p.m. the narcotics division and the Hazardous Entry and Arrest Team executed a search warrant at a residence on Martin Luther King Avenue.

Agent D.C. Dickens applied for a search warrant based on citizen complaints and officer information.

The paraphernalia seized included several different sizes of colored plastic baggies and two Mason jars containing marijuana residue.

Dickens issued Daryel Gardner, 58, a uniform citation for simple possession of schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has a December 3 court date.

Harris said residents may report alleged drug activity through Crimestoppers by calling 252-583-4444.

Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Andy Jackson said bullets hit the house and a truck, one going through a window where a 3-month-old child was staying.

The disturbance that led to the arrest of Caleb Lee Snider, 23, of Highway 561, was apparently over a woman, Jackson said.

Just after midnight, Officer Chris Biggerstaff responded to the 600 block of Franklin Street after receiving a call that a person, later identified as Snider, was sitting outside in his vehicle, revving the engine and squealing tires.

On the first attempt, Biggerstaff was unable to locate anyone. Just after 1:45, however, a call was received that shots were being fired in the same area.

After receiving a vehicle description, he spotted it on Roanoke Avenue, reportedly locating a rifle in the passenger area with live and empty rounds.

Snider was charged with discharging a firearm into occupied property, one count of injury to real property and one count of injury to personal property.

He was jailed on $5,000 secured bond and has an October 29 court date.

No Ebola patients have been treated at the hospital nor have any patients failed the screening process to evaluate potential patients who may be at risk.

“Halifax Regional remains prepared to treat all types of emergencies and provide necessary care for patients in our region,” said William Mahone, HRMC president.

Halifax Regional has always been prepared to perform a basic medical screening of all patients seeking care, including those who may have an infectious disease.

This screening includes an in-depth travel history, medical history, and detection of any symptoms of illness.

The medical center is also prepared to treat isolation patients, but national planning indicates that any confirmed Ebola patient would be transferred to a larger tertiary medical center.

“A safe work environment for our patients and staff has always been a top priority,” Mahone said. “Clinical staff are trained in basic infection prevention measures as part of their hospital orientation and continuing education, but we are implementing additional measures to re-educate front line staff and health care providers of our protocol and procedures for infection prevention.”

Halifax Regional has access to resources and expert guidance from Novant Health, the hospital said. “We will continue to participate in local, state, and national planning efforts to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases.”

Lieutenant Harold Phillips of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office said Clarence Edward Jones was arrested following the noon execution of search warrant on West First Street.

Narcotics Agent D.R. Radford applied for the search warrant based on information from sources and officer observation.

Weldon police Sergeant T.L. Mason assisted in the search with his dog Rio, who helped the officers find a .32-caliber handgun, 6.3 grams of marijuana and paraphernalia that reportedly included bags and scales.

Radford charged Jones with possession of a firearm by a felon, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana.

He was jailed on $20,000 secured bond and given a December 3 court date.

The sheriff's office encourages anyone with information on illegal drug activity to call Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.

Trooper J.D. Warren of the state Highway Patrol said George Thomas Walker, 59, failed to reduce to reduce speed and failed to stop at the stop sign at the top of the northbound exit for Interstate 95.

Warren said the man's brother had estimated he was driving the vehicle at 80 miles per hour. Walker crashed the 2005 Saturn into a line of trees across Highway 48.

He was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene by Northampton County paramedics.

Warren said there was no suspicion of alcohol use in the crash, which occurred shortly before 1 a.m.

Gaston Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ed Porter Jr. said in a statement that Walker was trapped in the vehicle and was extricated by firefighters.

Highway 48 was closed for two hours following the crash.

Captain Chuck Hasty said the juvenile was seriously injured by a 16-year-old when the small-caliber handgun discharged and hit him in the chest around 9 p.m..

Hasty said the sheriff's office is investigating to determine how the 16-year-old came in possession of the weapon.

Hasty declined to immediately release the name of the 16-year-old as the case remains under investigation.

The sheriff's office has free gunlocks available, he said, to prevent unintentional discharge of a weapon.

They stretch from Halifax County to Northampton County and their music videos are readily accessible on YouTube.

They are the gangs of the Roanoke Valley and law enforcement is getting ready to fight them.

“We are determined to combat the threat of gangs in Halifax County,” Sheriff Wes Tripp said Thursday night at a meeting addressing the matter.

“Gangs have their own means of communication to avoid prosecution,” he said. “Whether they are writing a letter or speaking, they can discuss drugs without using a single word that the rest of us would not recognize. They are violent and organized.”

Screenshot from a 1650 video on YouTube.

Known gangs in Halifax County include sets of the Crips; 1650 in South Weldon, a designation of State Road 1650; GMF, which is prevalent in both Weldon and Garysburg; G-50 out of Seaboard; Fastlane out of Weldon and Garysburg; Piru, an original Blood set out of Lincoln Heights; 400 Boys in Weldon, the name a designation of the bus they ride; The Fam in Enfield; Pinks in Weldon and Garysburg; SMM, which stands for Sex Money Murder, which is countywide.

Tripp said the time has come in Halifax County for a designated gang officer. “I want a designated gang officer to facilitate with the United States Attorney's office and state court prosecutors to implement programs that may discourage gang recruitment in Halifax County.”

He also called for a countywide gang task force that will have representation from every law enforcement agency in the county, as well as bordering counties, state agencies and federal authorities. “This can be done and we have competent officers to do it well. I also will establish a gang hotline where information can be obtained processed by a task force.”

In his opening remarks the sheriff said, “Since 2008, we have determined that nearly 80 percent of our homicides are related to drugs. In most of these cases, we have seen associations with gangs.”

While not saying which ones specifically, Tripp said, “I have mentioned gangs have been involved in homicides, but I assure you that they are involved in the distribution of drugs, robberies and other assaults. One of the most contemporary crimes involves these gangs robbing and killing each other. We have experienced direct retaliation between gangs.”

Law enforcement attending the meeting said they were behind Tripp's task force initiative.

HOD graffiti in Northampton County.

“We have gangs,” said Captain Chuck Hasty of the Northampton County Sheriff's Office. “It's usually east side, west side.”

The gangs in Northampton spill over into Halifax County, such as GMF out of Garysburg and G 50s out of Seaboard. HOD — homicide or death — represents Rich Square.

Hasty said a July 4 murder in Garysburg is possibly gang-related.

Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Andy Jackson said there are a number of gangs in the city, that include Crips and Bloods, motorcycle gangs representing the Hell's Angels and Mongols, as well as the Aryan Brotherhood.

The GMF gang is also prevalent in Roanoke Rapids as well as the 400 Boys and several gang sets in the Highway 48 area.

“Gang members commit crimes each and every day,” said Mark Bridgeman, president of the state Gang Investigators Association at a gang summit sponsored by the Halifax County Sheriff's Office. “We have to connect with each other. If we don't the gang members will win.”

Spotting signs of gang activity can be relatively easy, Bridgeman said. The wearing of one particular color over another could be a sign. Unexplained injuries are another as well as suddenly having unusual amounts of cash, clothes or jewelry.

Parents, Bridgeman said, are “Obligated to ask their children questions.”

Gang graffiti.

Gangs have located to North Carolina because of the relative ease of getting weapons to sell, Bridgeman said. Interstate 95 is considered the Iron Corridor by gang investigators because of the high volume of illegal weapons that are transported northward. A high-valued weapon can easily be exchanged for an ounce of powdered cocaine.

Halifax County is not alone. One-hundred gang members were recently arrested in Plymouth and Cathy Burnette, of the United States Attorney's Office said 90 gangs members in Henderson were recently arrested and convicted through the federal system. “We need task force officers to help us,” she said.”

Captain Wade Moseley at Caledonia Correctional Institution said gangs thrive on reputation, respect and retaliation.

Gang colors and signs.

Of the 5,316 verified security threat groups incarcerated in the state system, 90 percent are male and 10 percent are female.

Latino groups represent 49 percent of the security threat group population while 34 percent are African-American. Twelve percent are white and 5 percent are Asian.

Robert Fountain, of the state Department of Public Safety, told the group that parents need to be strict with their children. “It starts with a sense of entitlement. You're providing kids a place to stay. We must understand they pay for nothing unless they're paying rent,” he said, explaining parents have every right to know what their children are doing.

Dustin Wester, with the Rocky Mount Police Department Gang Unit, said 66 percent of all crimes committed in the city are gang-related.

Gang recruitment starts early, he said. “Sixty to 70 percent starts in middle school.”

Trick-or-treat will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Roanoke Rapids on October 31, police Chief Andy Jackson said at the Gingerbread House on Clearfield Drive with SafetyPup, Officer Adam Salmon and police department Administrative Assistant Tina May.

Salmon encouraged the children to not accept candy that was loose and to have their parents inspect even wrapped candy before eating it.

Don't take candy from strangers, May encouraged the youngsters.

The children received coloring books.

Jackson said children should wear bright or reflective costumes and don't wear costumes that have masks that restrict vision. Carry glow sticks or flashlights.

Other tips, he said, include walking facing traffic and collecting candy in neighborhoods you know.

Salmon and May also gave the children some tips when encountering strangers. “Grown-ups don't need little kids' help to do big things,” he said, such as helping them find lost dogs.

Making the siren wail.

May told the children never shop for toys by themselves, while Salmon told them should they encounter a stranger to scream and yell for help.

Salmon said if children should wake up before their parents, wake a grown-up up if someone knocks on the door. “If someone calls and asks if your parents are home, tell them yes and get the parent,” he said.

The police department began using SafetyPup, a mascot of the National Child Safety Council, this summer to promote safety tips.

The devices were stolen last Friday. Detective Bobby Martin said they are valued at $1,172.

The three were in the business together and reportedly left with them.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444 or Martin at 252-533-2810.

Sergeant Carl Hatcher of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission said Stephen Tripp, 26, and Earl Outland, 23, were charged a day after they reportedly went into the woods on October 13, a Sunday morning, and killed the bear.

Outland, of Littleton, was charged with possession of a big game animal during the closed season as well as transporting a big game animal during the closed season.

Tripp, of Roanoke Rapids, faces charges of possession, taking and transporting a big game animal. Investigation by Wildlife Enforcement Officer Dustin Durham also led to night deer-hunting charges against Outland, Hatcher said.

“For this to happen and think they can get away with it is a failure in communication,” Hatcher said today. “Bear season comes in November. They're taking away the opportunity for everybody else, hunting on a Sunday with a firearm.”

In this case, Hatcher said, “They had killed the bear and notified other people. They took it back to the house to clean it and tried to keep it.”

As the black bear population, as well as its range, expands in Halifax and Northampton counties, the state has changed the hunting season. The first season will be from November 10 to November 15, while the second season will be from December 15 to December 27.

People wishing to legally hunt black bear during the seasons must obtain a Bear Management Electronic Stamp from the state.

As the bears expand their range, they have the tendency to become a nuisance, Hatcher said. “The perception that black bears are dangerous, black are not dangerous, unless they are cornered or protecting their cubs. The nuisance is they get into trash. They're hungry. They'll get into anything including the garbage. There's no need to kill a bear in closed season. There's plenty of opportunities during the season.”

The men are scheduled to appear in court November 25.

Hunting violations may be reported to the enforcement division by calling 1-800-662-7137.

One surrendered while another is still be sought. A third person will not be charged, Detective Bobby Martin said today.

Victor Ward 24, of Garysburg, surrendered to the police department this morning and was charged with misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen goods. He was given a $1,000 bond and December 3 court date.

Garee Carr, 27, of Garysburg, has not been located, but is wanted on the same charges as Ward, Martin said.

Anyone with information on Carr's whereabouts is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444 or the police department at 252-533-2810.

Lori Medlin, president and CEO of the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau, told commissioners this evening that visitors spent a total $88.9 million in the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

That money created $1.9 million in local sales tax dollars and $5.07 million state tax money, she said.

Medlin told commissioners the county ranks 43^rd in tourist spending in the state. Following the meeting she said over the last fiscal year, the county ranked third in spending among counties along the Interstate 95 corridor.

Tourism is also making a stronger push to use social media through the #GetSocial effort, which allows visitors to comment and post photos via several popular social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. “Eighty percent of travel is now booked online,” she said. “GetSocial goes to all the social media platforms. It allows the public to post stories. It's been amazing.”

Pierce reads the proclamation to Beaver.

In another matter this evening, the board honored Taylor Beaver with proclamation recognizing her accomplishments in the sport of wakesurfing.

Board Chairman James Pierce presented the document to Beaver, the daughter of Jeff and Lisa Beaver of Roanoke Rapids. Roanoke Rapids City council honored Beaver earlier this month.