Public Safety

Whiteville Police have arrested a man for allegedly molesting a child in 2022. Sharmon Marshel Tolson, 71, of 110 Canal Street, Whiteville, was jailed Tuesday on the single charge of taking indecent liberties with a minor. He was released on a $10,000 secured bond. The warrant says Tolson performed a sex act on a minor child under the age of 16 in January 2022. WPD investigated the case.

Deputies found a four-year-old crying and the child’s father unresponsive when they went to serve a warrant on the child’s mother. Matthew Coker, 36, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse, according to warrants and detention center reports. His wife Sarah Coker, 35, was charged with two counts of simple assault after an unrelated incident. Both were released on secured bond. Their address was listed as 4700 Richard Wright...

The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Jose Luis Puente. Puente is described as 62 years old, wearing a black T-shirt, cowboy boots, a black hat with a Texas flag, and a black jacket.  He was last seen around 2 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 26)  near Sellerstown Road. If you have seen Puente or have any information regarding his whereabouts, call the Columbus County...