Public Safety

A wanted man was picked up outside the Nakina Dollar General store Tuesday after he was seen “Acting erratically and sweating profusely”. Kevin Michael Babson of Ash had good reason to be sweating, and it wasn’t just the heat: the sheriff’s office reports that he was wanted and was in possession of narcotics. Babson, 31, was arrested for felony probation violations, larceny by emplo0yee, failure to appear, driving...

A man described as “aggressive when he is impaired” was arrested after allegedly forcing a child to drive him around  the Sydney community. Matthew Blake Coker, 35, was held under a secured bond on charges of misdemeanor child abuse, impaired supervising or instruction, and allowing an unlicensed minor to drive. His address was listed as Richard Wright Road, Tabor City. Deputies were called to the Sydney Service Mart...

The suspect in a 2019 shooting and a string of other crimes across three counties will serve more than 17 years in federal prison. Maurice Isaac Hemingway was found guilty in federal court of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon. He will serve 204 months in prison, with eight years of supervised probation on his release. The sentencing on July...