The Roanoke Rapids Police Department reported the following, according to Chief Bobby Martin:
Saturday shortly before 4:45 p.m. Master Officer D. Newsome responded to the area of Tenth Street and Park Avenue on a call of a careless and reckless driver.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Timothy Tant, 29, of the Littleton area, was reportedly in a pickup and swerving in the roadway, almost colliding with other vehicles.
Newsome observed the vehicle at Tenth Street and Carolina Avenue. At Tenth and Charlotte streets Newsome caught up with the pickup as Tant continued to swerve from one lane to another.
Tant was slow to stop when the officer activated blue lights and siren. He then slammed on brakes but pulled off as Newsome went to talk to him.
Sergeant M. Hunsucker got Tant to stop again.
Officers observed Tant was impaired and helped him out of the truck due to his reported impairment.
Hunsucker deployed his dog Dubai, which gave a positive alert to narcotics in the vehicle.
Tant was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving while impaired and the officers located 40 dosage units of MDMA.
Tant was charged with possession of schedule I, DWI, no operator’s license, driving left of center, and possession with intent to sell and deliver MDMA.
He received a $1,000 secured bond and July 22 court date.
Friday shortly before 8:30 a.m. Hunsucker responded to the area of Roanoke Avenue near Abner’s about a potential intoxicated driver.
Officers were advised the driver of the vehicle, Brooke Brown, 35, of Emporia, was involved in a collision with another vehicle and leaving the scene.
Hunsucker located the suspect vehicle and tried to stop Brown, who refused to do so. She drove the vehicle through stop signs before finally stopping at West Sixth and Cedar streets.
Brown was taken into custody for failing to stop and hit and run.
According to further investigation, the passenger in the vehicle, Joseph Garcia, 37 of the Roanoke Rapids area, was taken into custody for driving into the Gaston Bridge and then stopping in Gaston where he and Brown switched places before returning to Roanoke Rapids.
Brown was charged with flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, DWI, driving while license revoked, hit and run/leaving the scene with property damage and reckless driving. She was also served a summons for school attendance.
She received a $3,000 secured bond and June 18 court date.
Garcia was charged with DWI, hit and run/leaving the scene with property damage, and driving while license revoked.
He received the same bond and court date as Brown.
“During this incident no one was hurt, but this could have been very different if we had not received calls from the residents in the area,” Martin said. “We appreciate any assistance we get from our citizens and we strive to maintain safe roadways and a safe community for the citizens of Roanoke Rapids and visitors.”
Newsome assisted in the investigation.
