DWI and Running Others Off the Road

Before Sheriff’s Deputies could get him stopped, he ran a stoplight, ran 3 cars off the road, and nearly hit a car.  The Wilkes Sheriff’s Deputy was on patrol when he noticed a truck being driven erratically on Hwy 18.  The driver, Gary Elswick, age 57 of North Wilkesboro, ran a red light at Sunset Drive and then proceeded on.  Three cars had to run off the road to avoid Elswick and still one car was nearly hit.  The Deputy finally got Elswick to pull over in the credit union parking lot.  The report does not state what his the blood alcohol level was, but when the Deputy asked him to step out of the truck, Elswick had to hold to the vehicle to stand and to walk.  He was arrested and charged with DWI and traffic violations.

Cut and Burn Shoplifting

The store video showed the suspect cut and burn the plastic packaging to circumvent the security device that would set off the store alarm.  Wilkesboro Police were called to Walmart concerning the theft of 4 Virgin mobile cell phones with a total value of 800 dollars.  The theft occurred overnight at Walmart.  The security video showed a white male in his teens cut and burn off the packaging of 4 phones, so he could get out of the store without setting off the security alarms.  Parking lot video surveillance also showed that the suspect had an accomplice.  Police have seized the store video as evidence.  They do have the names of the two suspects and charges are pending.

While in the Parking Lot....

And by the way, it sure is interesting who you see when you go to Walmart.  When Wilkesboro Police were leaving Walmart after taking the theft report, one officer noticed a man he knew had open warrants for his arrest.  A check was done and proved that Gil Perez, Jr. of Wilkesboro had three open warrants for drug possession, DWI, and probation violation.  Perez was arrested without incident in the parking lot and taken to the Wilkes County Jail.  His next court date is August 15.

Shoplifting and Drug Charges

He was arrested for shoplifting but charged with felony drug possession, too.  According to the report, Wilkesboro Police were called to Walmart concerning a shoplifter being detained by store personnel.  Store video surveillance showed the man, Bobby Lunsford of Wilkesboro, take and conceal a cap, a folding saw, and some batteries.  Lunsford then came back to the store later to return the items for an in-store credit card.  Lunsford was detained at that time until Police could arrive.  The Officer asked Lunsford if he had anything illegal on him, and he admitted to having some meth in a pill bottle in his pants pocket.  Lunsford was arrested and charged with felony drug possession, felony obtaining property by false pretense, and misdemeanor shoplifting.  He was taken to the Wilkes County Jail with a 7500 dollar bond.

More Broken Windows

There have been several reports of broken windows and vandalism over the past couple of weeks here in Wilkes.  This latest incident is a very expensive case of vandalism.  In a report filed with the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department this week, a resident on the Mulberry School Road called to report some broken windows.  The homeowners were away from home for 3 days.  When they returned, they found that 14 windows of their house had been broken out.  There was no report of a break-in and nothing was reported stolen.  Only the windows were broken.  Damages to the home are estimated at 1400 dollars.  There are no suspects at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.

Another Stolen Outside Heat/Air Unit

With the warmer weather coming on, did they want it to keep their house cool or where they taking it for the copper and other metals which they could sell to a scrap metal facility for quick cash.  A homeowner on the Fairplains Road called the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department when he noticed his outside heating and air conditioning unit gone.  Apparently, thieves stole the unit during the night.  The unit is valued at 3500 dollars.  There are no suspects at this time.  Others in the neighborhood are being questioned at to find out if anyone saw anything suspicious.  The investigation is still underway.

Indians in NC Receive HUD Money

Money for a children’s home is coming to Indians in North Carolina.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $390,370 to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of NC’s tribal communities to improve housing conditions, promote community development and to spur local economies with construction projects and jobs in North Carolina.  The competitive grants awarded are part of HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program that  addresses a wide variety of community development and affordable housing activities for low to moderate-income families. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of NC will use its $390,370 grant to construct a 4,500 square foot children’s home.  The current facility is in desperate need of repair and it will be more cost effective to construct a new facility than repair the existing one.  The new facility will increase capacity from 13 to 20 children in Cherokee who need a safe, stable home.  The funding North Carolina was awarded is part of $56 million HUD announced for tribal communities throughout the nation. 

Hagan's Legislation Gets Support

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan Monday announced that nearly two dozen groups are supporting her legislation to ensure that taxpayer’s investment in federal assistance for college students is not being wasted on advertising, marketing and recruitment.  The groups range from student and veteran organizations to consumer protection groups.  Hagan, along with Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), announced the Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act last month.  Hagan said.  “My legislation has broad support because it aims to protect taxpayers’ investment of billions of dollars in student financial aid by ensuring that it is used to help students succeed in college, not on out-of-control advertising, marketing and recruitment budgets.”  Hagan has expressed her concern with the tactics some for-profit colleges employ in targeting active duty servicemen and women and their families.  The Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act takes the most significant step yet to protect students, active duty military members, veterans and their families from these deceptive recruiting practices.

Wounded Wilkes Soldier Returned to DC

Family members of a Wilkes soldier wounded in Afghanistan were in Washington, DC on Sunday.  The soldier, 19-year-old Army PFC Chance Cleary, is a graduate of East Wilkes High School.  He was seriously injured one week ago in an IED explosion in Afghanistan.  Cleary suffered head trauma, back injuries, and broken bones.  He was initially taken to Germany and then flown to Walter Reed Army Medical in DC.  Cleary’s parents also flew to DC to see him over the weekend.  Many around Wilkes have been and will continue to pray for PFC Chance Cleary and his family.

Local ID Theft

A Moravian Falls Road resident called the Wilkes Sheriff’s Department recently to report that someone has gotten their debit card number to make purchases.  The victim and Sheriff’s Department investigators are getting a list of purchases with dates and times from their bank.  There are no suspects at this time.  The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 9 million people are victims of identity theft each year. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your identification information, such as your name, Social Security number, debit or credit card number. There are tips to protect yourself against identity theft such as keep all your personal papers in your house locked up, never give out personal numbers over the phone or online unless you known with whom who are dealing, and keep a regular check on your bank and credit card statements.