A mini storage for people...

Today our Code Enforcement Unit executed an Administrative Search Warrant at the   Pyramid Rehearsal recording studio on W. 10th Street in Greenville.   

This was in reference to the report of people actually living inside the recording studio.    The investigation found there were at least 23 people paying rent to sleep in cement-walled rooms about 12x12", with no windows.   They were sleeping on mattresses on the floors, or blanket pallets.  They were bathing from buckets, or from a garden hose behind the building, and had no kitchen facilities.    There were no windows nor smoke alarms, and only 3 exits at the ends of the building.  There were, at least, 4 toilets and sinks inside the building, and the building was climate controlled.

Code Enforcement Tools of the Trade

The renters are, for the most part, hard-working people who are close to homelessness or in financial straits.   They were paying between $180 and $220 per month to stay in the rooms.  In light of their circumstances, they voiced few complaints, but knew there was something not right about the way this situation was being run.

While it appears no criminal violations occurred, this use of the building as a motel or apartment facility was outside the realm of its design and  beyond the scope of its commercial permit.

Police Code Enforcement personnel contacted local ministries and the Salvation Army to assist the occupants with finding new places to live.

The owner of the building, a man living in Wilmington, may face civil penalties.

Occupants cleaning out their belongs

This case is a good example of the many types of issues our Code Enforcement Unit has to address.     In a commercial building laid out in design similar to a mini storage, one cannot help but compare this  situation to some form of human trafficking.

Rooms for Rent

The Department wishes to thank the ministries and relief organizations that responded to this situation and those who are providing assistance to the people affected.

Find your happy place...

A Case Study:

"Case #12-60983 - Second Degree Burglary – 2205 NE Greenville Boulevard (Sun Chase Apartments) – The victim told police that between 11pm and midnight on September 21, 2012, someone entered her apartment and stole her MacBook laptop computer and four pieces of jewelry.  The victim said that she had left her front door unsecured, as she routinely does.    No latent evidence recovered."

When a person leaves their home or their car unsecured, and things get stolen as a result, it upsets the community by giving the impression that crime seems out of control.  It frustrates the police because we know better than to leave valuable items out where they can get stolen.

What is a person to do, then?  We cannot live in constant fear and remain on red alert 100% of the time.

The fact is, there really are more good people out there than bad ones,  and it's desirable to have sense of trust in human nature, rather than a jaded or cynical viewpoint.  But we also have to accept a certain level of reality:  That there are people out in the world who will seek opportunities to victimize others. 

It's sad that we cannot leave our doors unlocked.  On the other hand, we don't have to see threats everywhere we turn.  We simply have to find that place in our minds where we are aware of the possibilities and accept them, and then move on.

This case will be a tough lesson for the victim.  We can all learn from her mistake.

We'll leave a light on for you...

On Saturday night Greenville Police Officers responded to reports from a witness that a man was seen climbing through the fence surrounding the clubhouse at Copper Beach Apartments.

When Police arrived they captured David Ruffin, a repeat offender, inside the clubhouse after he had forced the back doors open.   Ruffin was arrested and charged with Breaking & Entering.  Further investigation revealed that Ruffin had other stolen property in his possession, and 12 additional warrants against him were served.

Ruffin was provided overnight lodging at the Pitt County Detention Center.

Neighbors looking out...

COMMUNITY WATCH IN ACTION: 

Case # 2012-60504: Attempted B&E Residential – 985 Spring Forest Rd. occurred between 1420 and 1426 hours. 

A resident of the complex observed three suspects get out of an older green Buick, and attempt to 

break into his neighbor’s apartment by prying the window with a tire iron. The suspects saw the witness and fled on foot toward Meridian Park. The suspects were described as: 1-a dark skinned black male with dreads and white t-shirt, 2-a dark skinned black male with dark blue shorts on and 3-black male wearing all black. A fourth suspect that was driving the vehicle fled the scene in the vehicle prior to police arrival. A K-9 track was attempted and terminated behind Meridian Park in the woods. The tire iron was recovered from the bushes near the victim’s apartment.

Thank you witness & neighbor for your awareness and watching out for your community.

Attention wal-mart shoppers....

On Wednesday September 19 at about 6:25 pm, Greenville Police officers were called to Wal-Mart Shopping Center in reference to a CrimeStoppers tip that Jeffery Paul Morning was seen in the area.

Jeffery Morning is known by police to be wanted for drug violations involving the manufacture, sale, and distribution of heroin.  He has a long criminal history for illegal drug sales and possession, as well as multiple arrests for other crimes.

Officers located Morning in Wal-Mart and took him into custody without incident.

Morning was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia including a spoon and empty baggies, and 4 dosage units of heroin were found nearby.

Morning was arrested on outstanding warrants, charging him with Possession with Intent to Sell & Distribute Heroin, and Possession of Heroin.  He was also charged with the Possession of Heroin that was found near him at the time of his arrest.

Morning was jailed under a $100,000 secured bond.

Late nights....

In reference to further investigation of residential break-ins in the area of Wyndham Circle, Greenville Police officers identified Jaquanne Saunders as a suspect who was seen leaving an unlocked apartment with stolen items on September 18 at about 6:50 pm. Saunders was seen with an unknown female at the time.  Detectives obtained an arrest warrant against Saunders, but failed to locate him that evening.

Later this same night, detectives conducting surveillance in this area around 1:00 a.m. on September 19 observed 5 suspects park a car near the Off-Leash Dog Park, and begin walking toward Wyndham Circle.

Detectives stopped the 5 suspects, and among them was Jaquanne Saunders.  Saunders was arrested.  He was found to be carrying a pair of socks in his pocket, presumably to use as gloves.  Detectives detained the other suspects, including Jasmine Spruill, for questioning at the police department.

Through further investigation detectives obtained an arrest warrant against 21 year old Jasmine Spruill.  Since Jasmine appeared to be pregnant, detectives deferred serving the warrant until a later time.  Spruill already has a September 9 arrest for larceny.

Saunders was jailed under a $30,000 secured bond.  He has prior arrests for Possession of Stolen Goods, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Resisting Arrest, and Breaking & Entering.

Detectives believe Saunders had been staying with friends in the Wyndham Circle neighborhood up until a few months ago.

This case, along with others in the area of Wyndham Circle, is still under investigation, and additional arrests may be forthcoming.

like a box of chocolates...

On Tuesday September 18 at about 12:22 a.m. Greenville Police officers B.A. Groccia and A.S. Lemon spotted a 1988 black Mercedes Benz cross over the yellow center line 5 times as it was traveling north on Greene Street.

The officers stopped the car to investigate the possible Driving While Impaired offense near the intersection of Greene Street and Highway 11.  They identified the driver as 39 year old Derron Jordan of Greenville.  

When they approached the car, officers saw that Jordan had a semi-auto handgun partially hidden beside him in the car’s console.  The officers seized the Hi-Point 9mm handgun for safety purposes.

Following more investigation, Jordan was arrested for Driving While Impaired (DWI). During the arrest he was found to have prior felony convictions for drugs, as well as arrests for carrying a concealed weapon, assault, DWI, and domestic violence.

Officers subsequently charged Jordan with Possession of a Firearm by Felon and Felony Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

Jordan was jailed at the Pitt County Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond.

This traffic stop and arrest is a good example of the "routine" traffic stop.   There is a saying that no traffic stop is routine, which is true.    

You never know what you're going to get.

2 suspects arrested...

On Saturday September 15 Detectives from the Greenville Police Major Crimes Unit obtained and served arrest warrants against Tyrell Artis, 20 years old, and Shamel Brown, 22 years old, charging each of them for the murder of James Alan Carr on August 20, 2012.

These arrests are the result of an investigation that spanned 25 days and included multiple leads, corroborated by tips from Pitt-Greenville CrimeStoppers. Detectives at this time believe the motive for this crime was robbery.

Shamel Brown has prior arrests for assault on a female, larceny, resisting police, breaking & entering, and breaking in to motor vehicles.  Brown was already in jail on unrelated charges at the time of his arrest for this crime.

Tyrell Artis has prior arrests for breaking & entering, possession of firearm by a felon, assault, and larceny.  Artis was located and arrested without incident, and he is believed to be the gunman.  At the time of his arrest, he was an absconder from probation.

Both men are charged with 1 count each of murder, and 1 count each of first degree burglary.    They will be held without bond pending their first appearance in court on Monday.

Call us anytime..

The Greenville Police Department is currently investigating several incidents of break-ins and set fires that have occurred in the Wyndham Circle area. Police Department detectives are working all cases individually, while considering any possible connections.

An operations plan is in effect, and Department  resources have been shifted to allow for increased foot patrols and door to door contact with the community in this area.  

Residents in the area are asked to report any suspicious persons or activity to the Police Department immediately.

If you have any information regarding these crimes please contact the Greenville Police Department at 252-329-4315 or CrimeStoppers at 252-758-7777. 

Remember

"Tuesday September 11, 2001 dawned temperate and nearly cloudless in the eastern United States.  Millions of men and women readied themselves for work. Some made their way to the Twin Towers, the signature structures of the World Trade Center complex in New York City.  Others went to Arlington, Virginia, to the Pentagon.  Across the Potomac River, the United States Congress was back in session.  At the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, people began to line up for a White House tour.  In Sarasota, Florida, President George W. Bush went for an early morning run."

--opening paragraph of the 9/11 Commission Report.  

Monsters...

We often see in the media incidents of children exploited through the internet.  For those who would want to know how these crimes are investigated, there is the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. 

The Greenville Police Department is  an active member of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program. The ICAC Task Force Program helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to cyber enticement and child pornography cases.

When a case report is made, GPD detectives can work with other detectives from various jurisdictions to obtain evidence and internet data, and then successfully prosecute these case wherever the crimes occur.

This task force approach encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education. The ICAC Program is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces. This Program consists of a national network of state and local agencies dedicated to developing effective responses to the online enticement of children by sexual predators, child exploitation, and child obscenity and pornography cases.

The National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program is dedicated to
increasing the investigative capabilities of State and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors in the detection and investigation of internet crimes offenses against children.  ICAC is dedicated to the identification and apprehension of offenders, especially those including technology-facilitated child exploitation offenses.

TGIF...

It's been a busy day here at Greenville PD.   First thing this morning our negotiators were called to the scene of a distressed man who had climbed up a RR catwalk and threatened to hang himself.  He tied a rope around his neck and secured it to the Rail Road lights and threatened to jump.  After about an hour and 40 minutes of negotiations, the man came down on his own, and was taken to Vidant Medical Center for treatment.

• POLICE SAVE MAN AT TRACKS

Many of our officers are participating in mandatory in-service training this month.  Topics include; Legal Updates, Juvenile-Minority Sensitivity Training, Hazardous Materials Training, and Firearms In-Service.

Our team of officers who deployed to the Democratic National Convention will be returning to Greenville Today.  Early reports say the officers spent the bulk of their time providing security to various delegate hotels,  escorting delegates and protesters, and performing traffic direction duties.

The Greenville Jaycees and the GPD Pal Program is hosting a CornHole Tournament tonight at the Mellow Mushroom Restaurant on Charles Blvd, beginning at 6pm.  Entry fees will benefit the Jaycees and PAL.  Come on out and support PAL and the Jaycees.  These organizations do a lot of good things for the young people in our community.

• JAYCEES & PAL CORNHOLE TOURNEY LINK

Have a great Weekend, everyone.  Go Pirates!

The key...

Home security...

Home security seems to be in the news alot recently.   If you have conerns about the safety or security of your home, the Greenville Police Department will be happy to meet with you and conduct a Home Security Survey.    This survey is a general overview of the security areas of your home, including the environmental factors,  the structural factors, and your security practices & awareness.

It only takes about 30 minutes to complete that survey.

If you would like a Home Security Survey, call Sgt. Friday at 252-329-4372 to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

If you would like to do a self-survey,  send an Email to Sgt. Friday at:

•   Jfriday@greenvillenc.gov

Sgt. Friday will send you a .pdf survey form which you can complete on your own.

Here is a good video from Boise, Idaho Police Department about Home Security Surveys:

playing hooky...

Here is the definition of truant:  a juvenile at least seven, but less than sixteen years of age who is absent from school without a lawful excuse.

The Greenville Police Department has partnered with the Pitt County Schools System to address truancy in the school within the city limits.  The GPD truancy program has 4 goals:

• To return out-of-school kids who are found to be skipping class, back to school
• To enforce the compulsory school attendance laws
• To reduce the school drop-out rate
• To reduce child victimization and crime committed  by school age children

Throughout the school year, our PAL program officers,  School Resource officers, and Patrol officers will be on the lookout for school-aged kids who appear to be out of school without proper excuse.

Police officers will return truant kids to school whenever they are found.

This is one way in which the Greenville Police Department is working to keep kids in school and to keep them safe.

Playing hooky from school is not like it used to be...