The Roanoke Rapids Police Department reported the following, according to Chief Shane Guyant:
This morning around 2:30 PACE Officer J. Conrad clocked a vehicle driven by a man later identified as Cesar Lopez-Sales traveling 35 in a 20 zone in the Highway 48 area.
Conrad got behind the vehicle and observed the driver cross the centerline numerous times, Guyant said.
After stopping the 38-year-old Emporia man, Guyant said Conrad observed a dazed look on his face as well as noting his eyes were red and glassy.
Conrad observed several beer cans on the back floorboard.
With language assistance from Halifax County Deputy J. Morales the man was asked to exit the vehicle and consent to a preliminary breath test. He revealed a positive indication for alcohol.
He performed poorly on Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and was placed under arrest.
At the police department he registered .14 following a breath test.
A magistrate charged him with DWI, reckless driving with wanton disregard, open container, no operators license, and driving left of center.
As of this report he remained in the Halifax County Detention Center on a $1,000 secured bond. He has an August 2 district court date.
Canal Trail trespassing
A Roanoke Rapids man Sunday evening was charged with second-degree trespassing after the department fielded complaints of him acting belligerently to visitors on the Roanoke Canal Trail.
Police responded to the trail near Lee Street around 6:30 p.m.
Steven Wayne Brooks Jr., 27, has been advised several times to stay off the trail.
He was jailed without the opportunity as he has pending court dates on both the district and superior levels.
He is scheduled for a superior court date on October 28 for charges that include felony breaking and entering, communicating threats and possession of stolen goods, according to the state court calendar.
On Friday he has a district court date for larceny and possession of stolen goods and a district court date on September 6 for misdemeanor larceny.
He has an August 2 district court date for the charge Sunday.
Guyant said Brooks is considered homeless despite having family in a neighboring county who he said are either unwilling or unable to deal with him. “This arrest is the result of a consequential system flaw of not having resources to deal with homelessness,” he said. “Unfortunately, due to our proximity to I-95 transient people end up here. We are not overwhelmed, mind you, but their presence is obvious to law enforcement.”
The police chief said, “Unfortunately, these individuals have arrived at a place that has nothing to offer them. They live on the streets, in wooded areas, and other places. Most often they cause only nuisance issues, but crimes are committed nonetheless. With the oppressive heat and brutal cold temperatures these individuals live amongst us most of the time hidden from the public.”
Said Guyant: “The Roanoke Rapids Police Department is extremely empathetic to this issue, but we are not designed to be a solution. Our only solution is either IVC (involuntary commitment) or jail. We welcome any assistance from the public or other entities that can help us to help these fellow human beings survive without being a nuisance to our city. There has to be a solution to this issue.”
Provisional DWI
On Sunday around 1 a.m. Conrad met the driver of a vehicle speeding on Roanoke Avenue. The speed recorded by radar was 25 over the posted speed limit.
Following a stop, Guyant said Conrad could smell the odor of alcohol coming from within the vehicle.
He said the driver, Cheyenne Everett, 19, of Columbia, South Carolina, admitted to drinking an alcoholic beverage 20 minutes prior to the stop.
Guyant said the odor of alcohol became more apparent and stronger when she stepped out of the vehicle. A preliminary breath test was positive for alcohol and Everett performed poorly on the standardized tests.
The officer found several bottles of alcohol including an open container in the driver’s door pocket.
At the police department she registered a .09.
Provisional drivers cannot register .01 or more.
Everett was charged with DWI, driving after consuming alcohol while less than 21, reckless driving with wanton disregard, speeding, and open container.
She received a $1,000 bond but as of this report was not listed in detention center records. She has an August 2 district court date.
Child abuse
On Saturday around 9:30 p.m., Sergeant C. Hagbourne responded to the report of a minor child walking through the parking lot of a residential complex on East Littleton Road.
The caller had the child and wanted to speak with law enforcement.
Hagbourne learned that a 3-year-old child was left unattended from a neighboring residence. When the mother, Jessenia Grace Brown, 22, of Roanoke Rapids, was contacted she stated that she had left the child to take her boyfriend to work near Halifax.
Guyant said Brown indicated that she thought she had locked the door.
Hagbourne went to the Brown residence and located a 9-month-old in a crib in a back bedroom. There were no adults left to watch either child.
Eventually, Brown arrived at the residence and Hagbourne took her into custody.
Halifax DSS was contacted and they took custody of both children who were placed in a safe environment.
Brown was charged with two counts of child abuse.
She remains in the Halifax County Detention Center without the opportunity for bond as she has a pending August 29 district court for felony ID theft, felony larceny by chose in action and felony obtaining property by false pretense.
She has an August 2 district court date for Saturday’s charges.
