Public Safety

Ongoing aggressive patrols in the eastern part of Columbus led to drug charges for a Bladen County man April 1. Bruce Spencer, 46, of 531 McKoy Loop Rd., Ivanhoe, was  charged with three counts each of trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine; possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine, meth, marijuana and marijuana wax; maintaining a vehicle for drug activities, and possession of paraphernalia. He was held...

An infant is recovering after apparently ingesting an unknown substance Monday afternoon. The sheriff’s office responded to a medical call at a home on Crusoe Island Road around 3 p.m., according to a report. The infant was conscious and being treated by EMS when deputies arrived. The year-old child apparently consumed an “unknown substance,” the report said. The infant was transported to an area hospital for further evaluation....

Detectives are actively searching for a vandal who damaged around 20 mailboxes early Monday. The vandal hit mailboxes along Peacock Road and elsewhere in North Whiteville, the sheriff’s office said. The exact make and model of the pickup is not known. The truck appears to be gray or silver in color. Intentionally damaging  a mailbox can be prosecuted as a federal crime, although it usually handled in the...