Group Seeks To End Death Penalty In NC
(Raleigh, NC) -- A North Carolina group is seeking to do away with the death penalty. The ACLU says a brief was filed last week with the North Carolina Supreme Court. It was signed by law enforcement officials, a district attorney and others. The brief argues that the death penalty is rarely used in the state and doesn't deter murder.
Icy Weather Heading To WNC Tonight
(Undated) -- Most of Western North Carolina is in for some potentially icy weather overnight. Most counties are under either a winter storm warning or an advisory from 6 p.m. through Wednesday afternoon. The National Weather Service is predicting a wintry mix will turn into freezing rain overnight. Up to two-tenths of an inch of ice is expected, especially from I-40 to the north.
Testimony Underway In Ninth District Congressional Race Hearing
(Raleigh, NC) -- Testimony is underway at a Board of Election's hearing into ballot fraud allegations in the ninth district congressional race. One woman explained how she illegally picked up and falsified absentee ballots in the race between Republican Mark Harris and Democrat Dan McCready. She said political operative Leslie Dowless paid her 150 dollars for every 50 absentee ballots she collected. Dowless has refused to testify unless he is granted immunity, which the board denied. The hearing continues today in Raleigh.
Three People Injured In I-26 Wreck Outside Asheville
(Asheville, NC) -- The highway patrol says traffic was backed up on I-26 outside Asheville Monday morning due to a four-vehicle wreck. A Spruce Pine man is facing charges for failing to reduce speed on the interstate near Highway 191 Exit 33. A truck overturned and caught fire after hitting a tractor trailer. Three people were injured in the accident.
Stabbing Suspect Still On Run
(Buncombe County, NC) -- Deputies are still looking for a man accused in a Buncombe County stabbing. Investigators say Christopher Scott Owenby is wanted for stabbing a man in Fairview on Church Road Sunday afternoon. Black Mountain Police told WLOS-TV that Owenby also fled from officers in an early January car chase. He was wanted for breaking and entering before the chase.
Dogs Allowed At Waynesville Festivals
(Waynesville, NC) -- Festivals in Waynesville are now dog-friendly. Town alderman have voted to allow visitors to bring their dogs after wrapping up a year-long study. Waynesville's mayor said there were no problems after they completed some trial runs allowing dogs at local events. The canines must remain on a leash.
Testimony Underway In Ninth District Congressional Race Hearing
(Raleigh, NC) -- Testimony is underway at a Board of Election's hearing into ballot fraud allegations in the ninth district congressional race. One woman explained Monday how she illegally picked up and falsified absentee ballots in the race between Republican Mark Harris and Democrat Dan McCready. She said political operative Leslie Dowless paid her 150-dollars for every 50 absentee ballots she collected. Dowless has refused to testify unless he is granted immunity, which the board denied. The hearing continues today in Raleigh.
Suspect In Business Owner Murder Arrested
(Charlotte, NC) -- The search for a man accused of murdering a Charlotte business owner is over. Tyrone Miller was arrested in Dallas, Texas yesterday. He's been on the run since allegedly gunning down the owner of FixEr Electronic Repair in east Charlotte during an armed robbery. The FBI and CMPD had been offering a reward for up to 15-thousand-dollars for information.
Former Monks At Belmont Abbey Accused Of Sexual Abuse
(Gastonia, NC) -- Two former monks at Belmont Abbey College are connected to credible sexual abuse allegations. School officials said yesterday that Frederick George and Donald Scales were accused of single cases in the late 70s that weren't reported until later. George served as Belmont's chaplain in the 90s after the accusations against him were reported in Virginia a few years before. Scales died in 2008, two years after an accusation surfaced against him in Gastonia.
CMPD Investigates Two Monday Shootings
(Charlotte, NC) -- CMPD detectives are looking to see if two Monday morning shootings are connected. One man was shot outside Club Nikki's on Little Rock Road close to 4 a.m. and is expected to be okay. It was just a few hours later when another man was found shot to death on Wilkinson Boulevard just across from Club Nikki's. No arrests have been made so far.
Shootout At Matthews Walmart
(Matthews, NC) -- Charlotte-Meck Police are investigating a shootout in a Matthews Walmart parking lot. It happened Sunday night on Galleria Boulevard. No one was reported injured, but at least one car was damaged by bullets. A witness told Fox 46 that the alleged shooters drove off in separate cars.
Union County Approves Money For Industrial Park
(Union County, NC) -- Union County leaders have big plans for a new industrial park. Commissioners yesterday approved to spend just over 20-million-dollars to buy around 350 acres near the county airport. A pump station for the park will also be built with the money. County leaders plan to market the land to potential companies to purchase individual parcels of land.
Police Look For Men After Razor Blades Were Put In Walmart Shopping Cart Handles
(Siler City, NC) -- Police in Siler City say they're looking for two men after razor blades were found hidden in the handles of Walmart shopping carts. They say one shopper was injured by the razor blades on Sunday. Police think this could have been part of a shoplifting plot. They're looking for two men, one is described as a thin white man in his mid-20s with brown hair, the other is about a stocky 40-year-old bearded man, who stands roughly five-feet-five-inches tall. Surveillance images are available online. Anyone who thinks they recognize them is asked to call police.
The Operative At The Center Of A North Carolina Ballot Scheme Wants Immunity
(Raleigh, NC) -- The man at the center of the 9th Congressional District absentee ballot investigation says he's not testifying without immunity. State election officials say they have evidence that Republican political operative Leslie Dowless paid people for every absentee ballot collected in Bladen and Robeson Counties. It is illegal to collect absentee ballots in North Carolina. Dowless was paid by a firm hired by Republican Mark Harris, who won by a slim margin over Democrat Dan McCready. There's no evidence that Harris had any knowledge of this scheme. The hearing continues today.
A Man Is Accused Of Being So Drunk He Tried To Have His 8 Year Old Drive Him From A Bar
(Wake Forest, NC) -- A North Carolina man is accused of trying to make his child his designated driver. Wake Forest officials say on Sunday, 45-year-old Jimmy Brogden was arrested outside the Carolina Ale House. They say he was drunk and trying to make the eight-year-old child drive them home. Brogden was arrested and charged with child abuse, disorderly conduct and resisting a public officer.
Bond Is Lowered For The Garner Dad Accused Of Shooting His Son While Horsing Around
(Garner, NC) -- Bond has been lowered for a Garner man accused of shooting his son. Police say they arrested 45-year-old James Johnson on Saturday after he put his 14-year-old son in the hospital playing around with a gun. His attorney says he was playing around with the laser sight on the gun when it went off. The teen is in the hospital with serious injuries. Johnson was charged with child abuse and yesterday his bond was lowered from 100-thousand-dollars to 50-thousand-dollars.
Police Search For A Rapist In Fayetteville
(Fayetteville, NC) -- Fayetteville police are investigating a terrifying rape. The victim says she was walking along Yadkin Road on Thursday when a man forced her into a pickup truck and sexually assaulted her. He's described as a white male in his mid-40s with salt and pepper hair who may weigh as much as 300 pounds. He could be driving an early 2000s model red Ford F-150. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
Police Looking For A Vandal After 40 Car Windows Shot Out By A Pellet Gun
(Fayetteville, NC) -- Fayetteville police are trying to deal with a rash of car vandalisms. They say the vandalisms started about a month ago. Since then, someone with a pellet gun shot out windows in 40 cars. Most of the vandalisms happened in the Devonwood neighborhood. Police are trying to find the person responsible and ask anyone with information to call them.
Woman Details How She Falsified Absentee Ballots In NC Race
(Raleigh, NC) -- A North Carolina woman is detailing how a voter fraud operation in a controversial Congressional race worked. During the first day of testimony yesterday, Lisa Britt explained how she illegally picked up and falsified absentee ballots in the 9th Congressional District. Britt said a political operative paid her 150 dollars for every 50 absentee ballots she collected. She also admitted to forging her mother's signature on a handful of ballots so it wouldn't "raise red flags." The State Board of Elections will continue its hearing today.
Woman Charged In Asheboro Crash That Killed Ten-Year-Old Boy
(Asheboro, NC) -- A woman is facing multiple charges in connection with a crash that killed a ten-year-old boy in Asheboro. It happened last Wednesday on North Fayetteville and West Bailey streets. Police say 31-year-old Erika Ascencio turned into the path of another vehicle. A ten-year-old boy in her car was killed. Ascencio is charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, failure to secure a passenger under 16 with a seat belt, failure to yield and driving without a license.
Police Warn About Thieves Targeting Mailboxes In Triad
(Winston-Salem, NC) -- Triad residents are being warned about a string of mailbox thefts. Officers in Winston-Salem and Greensboro say they've received reports of mail theft. They say the motive is likely to steal personal information, and then use that information to open up a credit card in the victim's name. Officers are urging people who think they've been targeted to let their post-master know right away.
High Point Home Riddled In Bullets
(High Point, NC) -- High Point police are investigating a late-night shooting that left a home riddled in bullets. Police say more than 20 shell-casings were found at the scene Sunday night. They say someone drove by and fired shots at a home on Franklin Avenue. A family was inside at the time, but no one was hurt. Anyone with information is urged to come forward.
Man Loses Pants And Ten-Thousand Dollars In Randolph Co.
(Randleman, NC) -- A man and woman in Randolph County are under arrest after allegedly luring a man into a sexual tryst, then stealing his pants and ten-thousand dollars. Randleman police say 23-year-old Christopher Hancock was getting ready to have sex with a woman he had just met when two men allegedly came into the bedroom and attacked him. The woman and one of the male suspects are in police custody while officials search for a second male suspect. Hancock says that while all of this was happening, his girlfriend, with whom he has an open relationship, was waiting downstairs.