PLYMOUTH – Lester Alexander Bonds Jr., 18, of Plymouth, N.C. was taken into custody Oct. 1 by the Plymouth Police Department with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force. Bonds was brought before the magistrate at the Washington County Courthouse and formally served with multiple outstanding arrest warrants for offenses that occurred in Washington County and Martin County.
- Warrant For Arrest (Washington County) served for one count of (Felony) Breaking/Entering a Motor Vehicle w/ Theft, one count of (Felony) Financial Card Theft), one count of (Felony) Identity Theft, and one count of (Misdemeanor) Injury to Personal Property. Date of Offense: 03-17-2025.
- Warrant For Arrest (Washington County) served for one count of (Felony) Larceny. Date of Offense: 06-23-2025.
- Warrant For Arrest Washington County) served for one count of (Felony) Larceny of a Firearm, one count of (Misdemeanor) Assault w/ a Deadly Weapon, and one count of (Misdemeanor) Discharging a Firearm in City Limits. Date of Offense: 07-01-2025.
- Warrant For Arrest (Washington County) served for one count of (Misdemeanor) Larceny. Date of Offense: 07-27-2025.
- Warrant For Arrest (Martin County) served for one count of (Felony) Obtaining Property by False Pretense, and one count of (Misdemeanor) Resisting a Public Officer. Date of Offense: 06-24-2025.
Bonds was placed under a total secured bond of $80,000 and then escorted to the Washington County Detention Center for confinement. He was scheduled to appear at the Washington County Courthouse, Courtroom 1 on Oct. 7 and then at the Martin County Governmental Center, Courtroom 201 on Oct. 8.
U.S. Marshals Service assisted the Plymouth Police Department.
Bertie County Sheriff’s Office
WINDSOR – During October, Sheriff Tyrone M. Ruffin and the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office will be delivering special gifts to Bertie County citizens who are breast cancer survivors, as well as those who are currently battling breast cancer.
If you are a survivor or someone who’s currently battling breast cancer, contact Record Specialist Cynthia Earley at 252-794-5330. She will get the information to have our team deliver a gift.
In other matters, Robert Smith (28) of Powellsville was taken into custody on Oct. 1 on charges of Identity Theft, Forgery of Endorsement, and Resisting Public Office.
On September 17th, 2025, Robert Smith, a probation absconder, provided false information to deputies who stopped the vehicle he was operating for being suspicious in an area where a call for service had been made. Smith was initially charged with a driving offense on September 17th, but after confirming his true identity, Sergeant M Downing and Deputy D Melton obtained felony warrants for Smith.
Smith was taken into custody by the Herford County Sheriff’s Office on October 1, 2025. Smith was turned over to the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office, where he was confined in the Bertie Martin Regional Jail on a $10,000 secured bond.
Edenton Police Department
An Edenton man was charged with hit and run, leaving the scene, a misdemeanor, after an incident that happened on Sept. 26 on North Oakum Street. According to a report from the Edenton Police Department, George Leonard, 62, of Bluegill Circle, Edenton, was cited at 2 p.m. Sept. 26 for the incident. According to the incident report, Leonard is accused of backing up, striking the victim’s vehicle and leaving the scene.
Edenton Police arrested Travis Simpson, 44, of Drummond’s Point Road, Edenton, on warrants from Chowan County and Washington County. He was arrested during a traffic stop on Sept. 26 on Mexico Road, Edenton, for having 0.90 grams of cocaine in his possession. He faces a felony charge of possession of cocaine.
The Washington County warrants include a misdemeanor charge of assault on a female and two felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury. Simpson was confined to the Chowan County Detention Center. No bond was set.
Justin Sells, 40, of North Oakum Street, Edenton, was arrested during a traffic stop on Oct. 1 on Twiddy Avenue, Edenton. He was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia (two syringes) and simple possession of a Schedule III controlled substance (buprenorphine), both misdemeanors. A secured bond of $10,000 was set. He was confined to the Chowan County Detention Center.
Edenton Police arrested Rico White, 30, East Peterson Street, Edenton, on a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. A secured bond of $5,000 was set. He was confined to the Chowan County Detention Center.
At 2:13 p.m. Sept. 4, Edenton Police received a report of someone taking and using a debit card without the owner’s permission. The victim is an Edenton resident, as is the suspect. The incidents include possible charges of obtaining property by false pretenses, identity theft, credit card fraud, and obtaining a thing of value through financial transactions.
At 4:41 p.m. Sept. 23, Edenton Police received a report of breaking or entering a vehicle and misdemeanor larceny on Jackson Street, Edenton. According to the report, two STIHL weed eaters valued at $250 each were taken from the victim’s vehicle.
At 8:58 a.m. Sept. 26, Edenton Police responded to a report of misdemeanor larceny at the Duck Thru on Virginia Road, Edenton. According to the report, the suspect took $3.79 worth of alcohol.
Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office
According to the Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office, during September:
- There were 10 days of Court for the month.
- We received 2410 total calls for service.
- 19 Arrests were made.
- 56 Incident Reports were taken.
- 205 total papers were served.
- All deputies attended in-service training,
Investigators Fowden and Jordan, along with Deputies Sizemore and Turner attended Criminal Behavioral Analysis Training,
Investigators Fowden, Watson, and Jordan attended Child Death Investigation training.
On Sept. 29, Travis Searcy, of Discovery Court, Hertford, was arrested and charged with communicating threats. A $500 bond was set.
On Sept. 30, Cedrick Clark, of Peartree Road, Elizabeth City, was arrested for possessing stolen goods/property, identity theft, obtaining property under false pretense, driving while license revoked and window tinting violation. No bond was set, and Clark was placed on a 48-hour hold. Clarke was also arrested on Oct. 2 on charges of identity theft, obtaining property by false pretenses and financial card fraud. No bond was set, and Clark was put on a 48-hour hold.
On September 30, Brandon Garner, of West Cambria Road, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested for obtaining property under false pretenses, identity theft, and possession of stolen goods or property. A secured bond of $55,000 was set. He was again arrested on Oct. 2 on charged of identity theft, obtaining property by false pretenses and financial card fraud. No bond was set and Garner was put on a 48-hour hold.
Leslie Heath, North Edenton Road Street, Hertford, was arrested on Oct. 2, on a charge of intoxicated and disruptive. A secured bond of $1,000 was set.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.