Public Safety

William James Purdie turned himself in to Bladen authorities Wednesday to face charges of murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Purdie, 37, of Airport Road, Clarkton, was charged with the murder of Ervin Junior Ripley, 51, and assaulting his mother, Debra Purdie, 53. Ripley was from Allen Circle, Clarkton, and Ms. Purdie lives in the 5000 block of Mercer Mill Road, where the shooting occurred. The shooting...

Vice-Narcotics detectives have arrested another alleged cocaine, methamphetamine and opiate dealer near Chadbourn. Kelly J. McClure, 38, of 97 McDuffie Lane, Chadbourn, was jailed under $301,000 bond on six counts of felony sale and delivery of methamphetamine, trafficking cocaine and opiates, maintaining a dwelling for drug activities, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.  In a press release, the CCSO said McClure became...

Pursuit of a fleeing suspect led deputies from Whiteville to Hallsboro and back again just before midnight Wednesday. Brandon Lee Lewis, 39, faces multiple charges including fleeing to elude arrest, driving while impaired, failure to yield, damage to government property, and assault on a law enforcement officer after the chase. He was held under a secured bond. The sheriff’s office reported that deputies were on routine patrol when...