Police Blotter 8/23/2012

A wallet was stolen out of pocketbook from a workplace on the island, said Sergeant Jason Daniels.  The victim was confident it had not merely gone missing, and a suspect has been identified.  The ongoing investigation could result in charges being filed in both Dare and Hyde Counties. 

Daniels is always quick to remind us that an accepted principle of the US Justice system is that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

A visiting woman was stopped and failed a sobriety test.  Cartoons entertained three children under the age of 12, who were in the car with the woman at the time of her arrest, at the Sheriff's department while she was breathalyzed and processed.  There is no DSS facility for children on Ocracoke.  Everyone went home with a responsible adult when bond was posted.   The driver will appear in court.

An ongoing domestic case has resulted in two assault charges against an island resident, and the issuance of an ex parte, or restraining order. 

Wednesday, August 22 was nothing out of the ordinary.  "Everything was cool.  There was not too much stupid mess going on," said Daniels.  He noted good crowds and good times at the bars on Highway 12.   At 2 a.m. he was stretching his toes and eating a cracker, thinking about calling it a night, when his radio went off. 

A vehicle was reported stolen from the parking lot of a restaurant on Irvin Garrish Highway.  The owner was clearly upset, said Daniels, and both set off to look for the truck.  Within 15 minutes, Daniels received the call that it had been located in the parking lot of a hotel. 

On the way there he encountered a golf cart on its side, and quickly identified the man with the bloody face as the driver.  "He shouldn't have been driving," said Daniels.  After being treated for his abrasions at the Health Center, he was charged with both DWI and careless and reckless driving. 

Beach Towing cleared golf cart down from the roadway.  "Jesse [Spencer] is a "lifesaver," who responds immediately to calls from the Sheriff's office, no matter the hour of the day or night, said Daniels.

The owner of the stolen truck was content with the recovery of her property, and does not wish to pursue charges.

There have been six vehicle crashes since the last Caught on the 'Coke.  None resulted in injury, and could more fairly be characterized as fender benders, said Daniels.  All were the result of drivers not paying attention.  "There is no such thing as an accident.  It's called a crash," he said, reminding people to operate all vehicles with caution.

A number of tickets continue to be written for having open containers on golf carts, and for allowing underage drivers to operate them.  Ocracoke officers have seen children as young as 8 or 9 chauffeuring their parents through town.  After two years of educating drivers and issuing warnings, the department no longer hesitates to write a ticket each and every time they witness one of these infractions. 

Rumors of shoplifting reached the Sheriff's Department.  Do not hesitate to call Ocracoke officers and ask them to stop by your business if you have suspicions, said Daniels.  A deterrent, like an officer strolling through or even tailing a suspect, can be the best defense against shoplifting.  It can be hard for stores with no video surveillance to successfully prosecute this crime.

Ocracoke police remind everyone to please, lock your doors, especially at night.  Officers escorted one man from an island home in which he didn't belong at 5:30 a.m.  People wander into the wrong home far more often that you would suspect.  Lock your doors. 

If you refuse to lock your car, at least take the keys with you, said Daniels.  Several cars are taken by people who are not the rightful owners each year.  The most the department can do is charge them with joyriding, which is a misdemeanor.   And if your insurance company finds out the keys were left in an unlocked car, you'll likely have no claim to recompense at all if the vehicle is damaged.  Think about that.