The Roanoke Rapids Police Department reported the following, according to Chief Bobby Martin:
On Saturday shortly before 10 p.m. Officer J. Wind responded to the police department to meet a person waiting to file a report.
Wind learned the person was the victim of a kidnapping, assault, and larceny, explaining to the officer that he was held against his will by a person with a weapon. The man the complaint was based on was later identified as 38-year-old Antonio Avent of Roanoke Rapids.
The officers were unable to initially locate Avent. On Sunday shortly before 1 p.m. Officer D. Norfleet attempted to serve warrants on the man at Vidant North Hospital. Avent ran and was later captured on Buffaloe Street. A stolen phone and drug paraphernalia were recovered.
Martin said it was not clear why Avent was at the hospital.
Avent faces charges of kidnapping, felony larceny, forced sex offense, resist delay and obstruct, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was jailed under $61,000 bond and has May 23 and May 26 court dates.
“This was a great job by officers on C squad and D squad,” Martin said. “They demonstrated great team work.”
On Saturday shortly after 7:45 p.m. Lieutenant J. Baggett was on patrol in the area of Virginia Avenue and Julian R. Allsbrook Highway when he noticed a vehicle in front of him traveling at a higher-than-normal speed.
The officer followed the vehicle and confirmed the driver, later identified as Kenny Graham, 29, of Seaboard, was speeding and conducted a traffic stop.
Graham initially gave Baggett a name and date of birth that did not appear to be correct.
Further investigation revealed Graham’s correct name and that he was driving on a revoked license.
Graham was charged with driving while license revoked, giving fictitious information to law enforcement and was served an order for his arrest on unrelated charges.
He was also cited on a state citation for speeding, and received a $1,000 bond. He has a May 23 court date.
On Saturday shortly before 8:30 p.m. Master Officer D. Newsome was on patrol in the area of Marshall Street and Julian R. Allsbrook Highway.
Newsome observed the driver of a vehicle pass him heading east. The driver, later identified as Steven Hargrave, 36, of Roanoke Rapids, pulled away from the officer at a higher than normal speed. Hargrave was not maintaining lane control as well.
Newsome stopped the driver and could reportedly smell the odor of alcohol and observed open containers in the vehicle.
Newsome placed Hargrave under arrest for suspicion of DWI, open container, no operator’s license and speeding.
He was released to a responsible person and received a July 15 court date.
Officer N. Powell assisted.
