Gunter Lake Road Resident Arrested & Charged

The Detective Division of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 1075 Gunter Lake Rd. During the search, detectives located several stolen items that had previous been reported. Detectives also located cocaine and drug paraphernalia inside the residence. While searching the outside of the residence, Detectives located several marijuana plants growing behind the residence. Grady Reid Jackson Jr., 25, of 1075 Gunter Lake Rd. was arrested at his home. He is accused of breaking into several residences in the Lemon Springs area. He is charged with two counts of felonious breaking and entering, five counts of burglary, seven counts of felonious larceny, six counts of felonious possession of stolen goods, felonious manufacturing of marijuana, felonious possession of cocaine, felonious maintaining a dwelling house and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in Lee County Jail under a $75,000 bond.

SHERIFF OFFERS SAFETY TIPS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

Sheriff Tracy Carter County offers some safety tips for those youngsters who will be walking back and forth to school this year.

“Parents can teach their children the following safety tips which will inform the youngsters of the danger signs to watch for and avoid in walking back and forth to school,” Sheriff Carter said.

Drivers should be cautious of children walking back and forth to school,” added the Sheriff. “We can all learn from the safety tips below and abide by them to make Lee County safer for all.”

· While walking, remember to always travel with a friend. Two heads are better than one, especially if there’s an emergency.

· A stranger is anyone you or your parents don’t know well.

· You or your friend must never take candy, money, medicine or anything else from a stranger.

· If a stranger in a car asks you questions, don’t get close to the car (you could get pulled in) – and never get in the car.

· Strangers can be very tricky – they can ask you to walk with them to “show” them something; they can offer to pay for your video game, or ask you to help them find a lost dog or cat. Don’t be fooled!

· Don’t tell anyone your name or address when you’re walking and don’t think that because someone knows your name that they know you – they may just be looking at your name printed on your lunch box, school bag or T-shirt.

· If you think you’re in any danger, yell, and run to the nearest store or “safe house” or back to school.

· Always tell your parents or teacher if a stranger has approached you.

“By taking the time to carefully prepare your child on how to handle these situations, you can insure your child’s safety whether they are walking to or from school, playing in a playground or riding their bikes,” Sheriff Carter concludes.

Did You Know Lee County Is On Ebay?

Lee County Government is proud to be offering surplus equipment for sale to the public via Ebay's online auctioning service. We plan on offering this service throughout the year as items become available.

Visit our page on Ebay here but make sure you read our rules before bidding!

Auction Rules

To bid on an online auction by the Lee County, you must agree to these conditions:

• DO NOT bid on our auction unless you are serious.
• Negative feedback will be left on your account and eBay will be contacted in reference to your actions.
• All our items are listed AS IS. No refunds or exchanges. Please check the auction description for more info about the item.
  We only accept PayPal for items requiring shipment. When using PayPal to pay for an auction item, please make sure that you have already established an account before bidding on an auction item.
  
• Unforeseen problems sometimes can occur when setting up an account (verifying bank info, wrong address listed on credit card, etc.), that can delay payment being sent, and could cause the auction to be re-listed.
  
• Items can be picked up locally, and paid for locally in the form of cash only. You can also pay via PayPal and then come pick up the item.
  
• Winning bidders have 5 days to pay for an item. If you are an international bidder, you have 5 days from receipt of the shipping quote email to pay for an item.
  
• We will not sell outside of eBay, or end an auction early. If you are interested in an item we have up for auction, please bid on it through eBay.
  
• If you do not insure your item, the shipping company cannot be held responsible for lost or damaged items.
  
• Lee County cannot provide technical assistance or installation help for items we list online. Please visit the manufacturer's website for support information
  

PICKUP Information:

If item is to be picked up locally, it will be available NEXT BUSINESS DAY following close of the auction between the hours of 8a-11a and 12p-4p. If special arrangements need to be made, please email tjohnson@leecountync.com. Otherwise, the pickup location is located at our General Services department on 805 5th Street, Sanford, NC. You must provide valid identification to retrieve your item. If item has not been prepaid with PAYPAL, you must pay in CASH. Credit Cards, Money Orders, Checks and other forms of payment will not be accepted.

Lee County General Services Department

805 South 5th Street Sanford, NC 27330

919-718-4622

Map and Directions

Dancing With The Lee County Stars

The hype leading up to the event was second to none and the entertainment last night was awesome! The Dancing with the Lee County Stars competetion was last night at the Dennis Wicker Center in Sanford. The house was packed and the evening was full of surprises. Thanks to WRAL, they provided us a link to some of their coverage. Check it out here!

Erin Zureick from the Sanford Herald covered the story here.

The funds generated by the Dancing with the Lee County Stars will support local children and families through their programs that bring community resources into Lee County Schools.

Undercover Operation Nets Drugs & Fugitive

Enrique Aguirre Mendez, AKA David Charo Jr., AKA Gerardo Esquibel Perez, 33, of 105 Gordon Street, Sanford, was arrested on 8-19-2009 for trafficking Cocaine by possession, trafficking Cocaine by transportation, trafficking Cocaine by sell and possession of drug paraphernalia after county drug agents discovered him in possession of approximately 574 grams of Cocaine during an undercover operation on Providence Hall drive.

After his arrest, further investigation discovered that Mendez was a fugitive from the North Carolina Department of Corrections for violation of parole. Mendez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was placed in the Lee County Jail under $500,000.00 secured bond on the drug charges and was held without bond on the parole violation. The seized drugs have an estimated potential street value of $114,800.00.

Drug Bust Nets Cocaine Worth $24,000.00

On 8-17-2009, Lee County Drug Agents conducted a search at 207 Lochmere Drive and discovered 123 grams of Cocaine with a potential street value of $24,600.00. As a result of the investigation, agents charged the occupant of the home, Valentin Nunez Ocampo, 37, and charged him with Trafficking Cocaine, maintaining a dwelling to store drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Ocampo, an illegal alien from Mexico, was placed in the Lee County Jail under $200,000.00 secured bond.

SBI Releases Crime Stats

August is that time of year when the Attorney General releases the annual crime stats for the entire state. Click here to see the list of reports the State SBI provides.

NC State Crime Summary can be found here.

Scott Johnson Benefit Dinner Aug 29th

Please join us in supporting one of our own on Saturday, August 29th at Mrs. Wenger's Restaurant from 4pm until ?! If you can't make it in person, please consider making a dontation via check. This can be done by contacting one of the individuals below.

For more information, please contact Anna Smith at 776-2131; Jason Hendley at 842-6671 or Marshall McNeil at 356-9314.

Eat in or Take out! Bring your Family!

Mrs. Wenger's is located on Carthage Street, downtown

Sanford at the railroad tracks, across from the Depot Park.

Joint Agency Effort Leads To Cocaine Bust

A three month investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the seizure of 330 grams of Cocaine and the arrest of one person. Nicolas Mora-Bravo, 32, of 139 Thornwood Loop, Sanford, NC, was arrested on 8-6-2009 for Trafficking Cocaine and maintaining a dwelling to store drugs after the Cocaine was discovered in his home during a search. Agents also seized $2,094.00 in US currency and one firearm. The investigation was the result of a joint effort by Lee County drug agents and agents of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office narcotics Unit.

Mora-Bravo, an illegal alien from Mexico, was placed in the Lee County Jail under $400,000.00 secured bond. The drugs have an estimated potential street value of $66,000.00.

Sheriff's Office Sees Two Retire

Today the department wished a farewell to two longtime employees of the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Capt. Leon Beavers, who ran the department's civil division, and Sgt. Carolyn Petty, who worked in the dispatch center, both retired as of Friday.

Leon started at the sheriff's office in 1980 as a road deputy. "I'll really miss the people I worked with the other deputies and the plaintiffs and the defendants," he said. Leon , who also worked at the office under sheriffs Billy Bryant, Harold Thomas and James Holt, said he's got plenty around the house to keep him busy.

Carolyn started at the Lee County Jail in 1983, eventually moving over to the communications center. She said she was looking forward to spending time with her family, but would miss her "law enforcement family." "There was some emotion. I cried from the time I got to work to the time I left," she said. "I come from a law enforcement family. Once it's in your blood, it's hard to get it out. "Petty said at a retirement luncheon Friday, the mother of a boy she once helped to save during a break-in came to visit. "His mother made a special trip to see me and to let me know he was now 20 years of age," she said. "That was very, very special to me. Carolyn also served under sheriffs Bryant and Holt. Carter said he doesn't like to see good employees go, but noted that both will have opportunities to stay on as part-timers."They've both been great employees, I feel comfortable speaking for the other sheriffs on that," he said. "We wish them well."

Crime Alert

Sheriff Carter and his staff are asking that all citizens to be the eyes and ears for their community and report any suspicious persons or vehicles moving around in their neighborhoods to their local law enforcement, whether it be the Sheriff's Office, Sanford PD, Broadway PD, etc. If you feel a crime is about to occur, please call 911!

We've seen a slight rise of thefts in Lee County during the daytime hours and we do have extra patrols out however the citizens can help play an important part by reporting suspicious activity.

WHEN IN DOUBT, CALL THEM OUT!