Public Safety

Arson charges were pressed against a Whiteville area man who allegedly set fire to a home while a resident was still inside. The sheriff’s office said Jerry Lynn Hewett, 62, was held under no bond for first degree arson. His address was listed as 39 Rose Lane, Whiteville. Rose Lane is off Smyrna Road. Hewett is alleged to have burned the home Saturday evening, while Christopher Cliff was...

Bladen detectives have arrested a man who was using secret cameras to take explicit photos. Colby Edward Dent, 28, was charged with two counts disseminating pornography, installing a photo device in a room, peeping, creating explicit photos, and possessing photos created by peeping. All the charges are felonies. He was held under $25,000 secured bond. Dent is from Ocean Isle, according to detention center reports. The Bladen Sheriff’s...

A man, woman and infant escaped injury Saturday when someone allegedly opened fire on their vehicle. The sheriff’s office reported that the family was traveling on Haynes Lennon Road in the 4700 block just before 11 p.m. Saturday when another car came up behind them, the sheriff’s office reported. A person in the second vehicle car opened fire with a handgun and fled the scene. Damages to the...