Public Safety

The suspect in a domestic violence case has been charged with damaging a window in a holding cell at the courthouse. Joe Frank Rich II, 33, was arrested Sept. 5 for assault on a female and domestic violence. He was held under no bond. Rich was in the holding cell at the Columbus County Courthouse Wednesday (Sept. 7) when he allegedly broke a window. The damage was estimated...

Checkpoints across Columbus County turned up stolen firearms, narcotics and open alcohol over the weekend The sheriff’s office is participating in the ongoing Click or Ticket crackdown on impaired and aggressive drivers. Multiple agencies are focusing on extra patrols and enforcement through Sept. 11. A Virginia man was arrested on drug, alcohol and weapons charges at a Peacock Road license checkpoint Sept. 2. Thomas Wayne Stech, 22, of...

A Whiteville man was found shot to death in the 700 block of Burkhead Street Monday (today), and a juvenile has been taken into custody. Caron Antwan Robinson was found around 12:35 p.m., Whiteville Police said in a press release. He was transported to Columbus Regional, where he later died. A juvenile was taken into custody, the release said, and the case is still under investigation.