Public Safety

A grassfire led to the discovery of a break-in and vandalism of a home Tuesday. Linda Campbell contacted the sheriff’s office after she went to the home on J.D. Cartrette Road after being called about a grassfire on the property. She discovered that someone had broken several windows and damaged a door, causing around $10,000 in damage. Campbell told Deputy T. Stewart that she checks the property daily,...

While there was evidence there are no suspects in a drive-by shooting that damaged several homes on Godwin Trail Tuesday. Deputy T. Stewart was dispatched to the Chadbourn-area property just before noon. William Gause told Stewart that someone in a dark blue SUV opened fire on his property, striking the home and automobile. Two neighbors, Felicia Gause and Robin Johnson, reported their homes were also hit by gunfire....

A shooting in the Green Acres community has resulted in a life sentence for a Columbus County man. Marty Devane Soles, 28, formerly of Sandy Drive, Tabor City, was found guilty of first degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and attempted armed robbery on Tuesday in Columbus County Superior Court. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole by Superior Court Judge Gale...