The North Carolina Department of Public Safety family will never forget October 12, 2017. On that day at Pasquotank Correctional Institution, four heroes -- Veronica Darden, Geoffrey Howe, Wendy Shannon and Justin Smith – were viciously assaulted and ultimately lost their lives fulfilling their duties as public servants.
Press Releases
As Tropical Storm Michael’s punishing winds and rains sweep across North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper announced that the storm has claimed the life of a man who died this afternoon in Iredell County when a tree fell on his vehicle.
Governor Cooper warned all North Carolinians to remain cautious and alert and to avoid going out in the storm if possible
“As night falls, please don’t go out unless you have to,” Gov. Cooper said. “Falling trees and rising waters, along with landslides in our mountains, are making travel difficult and even life-threatening in some areas.”
WHAT: N.C. Prison Reform Advisory Board Meeting
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
WHERE: Governor’s Crime Commission, Room 100, 1201 Front St., Raleigh
North Carolina renters who face eviction or have been evicted from their storm-damaged apartment complex—whether their unit had damage or not—may be eligible for disaster assistance from FEMA.
Offender David Atkins (#1465138) died Oct. 1 at Piedmont Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 7:48 p.m. Prison medical staff and local paramedics responded and worked to resuscitate the offender. He was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. at the facility.
At approximately 8:40 a.m. today at Scotland Correctional Institution, inmate Cadarius Thomas (#0821718) was involved in an assault on one correctional employee. Additional staff were called in to assist. The employee was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Inmate Thomas was treated locally at the Scotland medical facility.
The assault occurred in the canteen area of a housing unit at the prison. That housing unit has been placed on lock down.
Initial estimates for crop damage and livestock losses to North Carolina’s agriculture industry are expected to be over $1.1 billion, based on assessments following Hurricane Florence. That number easily tops the $400 million seen following Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
The overwhelming generosity of the public in the wake of Hurricane Florence is helping affected communities to start healing from the consequences of this disaster. However, a deluge of donated items can quickly exceed the needs of the affected communities, requiring supporting agencies to redirect manpower away from providing direct services needed by survivors to managing donated goods that may not meet survivors’ needs. Therefore, the State of North Carolina is asking you not to donate unsolicited goods at this time.
Interstate 95 through North Carolina is now reopened to all traffic, Governor Roy Cooper announced Sunday night. Floodwaters that covered the interstate following Hurricane Florence receded quicker than expected, allowing the North Carolina Department of Transportation to complete the inspections and repairs needed to reopen the road.
Governor Roy Cooper’s message to anyone traveling in North Carolina remained consistent and straightforward Saturday morning—stay away from areas with flooded roads in southeastern North Carolina.
The governor stressed avoiding areas east of Interstate 95 and south of U.S. 70. As of Saturday morning, there are about 550 areas on state-maintained roads and highways closed because of Hurricane Florence. Interstates 40 and 95 continue to be under water in several locations.