New Fingerprinting Service Offered for Parents

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. His or her child is missing.

Lee County law enforcement officials are touting a new initiative aimed at giving officials a head start in the case of a missing child. Sheriff’s Office deputies are partway through an effort over the next few weeks to fingerprint and catalog information about hundreds of local children.

Sheriff’s Office Lt. David Prevatte said newly purchased computer software allows authorities to quickly photograph and fingerprint children for storage on a compact disc.

The disc will be given to parents, and could serve as an invaluable tool for officials if a parent’s nightmare comes true.

“If a child was to go missing and had been fingerprinted, it will allow us to have that information along with a photo,” Prevatte said. “...At least we would have a starting point.”

Deputies are wrapping up efforts this week to log roughly 150 children at Christian Provision Ministries at 2300 Courtland Drive, with plans to enter another 200 kids in the coming weeks at a separate Christian Provision Ministries at 1100 Garden Street, Prevatte said.

The Sheriff’s Office is available to offer the free service to various clubs, organizations and civic groups in the county, he said.

The idea to start up the program stemmed from local parents who wanted to find ways to make the transfer of information to law enforcement on missing children as efficient as possible.

Officials say speed is a necessity in many missing person cases, where the likelihood of finding a person declines over time.

Prevatte said law enforcement will not retain the children’s information. It will be up to parents to offer up the CD if their child ever goes missing.

The 5-minute service could be utilized for school students in the future, he said.

Prevatte, who is heading up the program, can be reached at the Sheriff’s Office at 919-718-4563, extension 5627 or by email at DPrevatte@leecountync.gov

Indoor Growing Operation Found During Search

Jared Travis Washburn, 30, of 1285 King Farm Road, Sanford, was arrested on 3-23-2011 and charged with manufacturing Marijuana, maintaining a dwelling to store drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia after county drug agents searched his residence and discovered 30 Marijuana plants growing inside. Washburn was placed in the Lee County Jail under $5000.00 secured bond

Lions Club Welcomes Sheriff Carter

Sheriff Tracy Carter addressed the weekly meeting of the Sanford Lions Club Thursday, March 10, 2011. The Sheriff discussed several topics, including technology and recent crime trends.

“I don’t say much about the crime rate because to a victim of crime, it’s still too high” the Sheriff stated. The department has approached crime fighting from several different fronts, including increasing officers’ presence throughout the county, building relationships with citizens and using new technology to fight crime.

The department also has its own successful drug investigation division resulting in the seizure of over $18 million worth of drugs the past four years and countless arrests. "Drugs alone create alot of our crime. We reduce the drugs, we reduce the crime".

The county jail has the most modern fingerprinting and data base technology that helps to properly identify all detainees. Approximately four persons a month are extradited or deported to other states or countries, the Sheriff said.

Sheriff Carter reminded the club that he supports more lenient proposals from lawmakers governing those with concealed weapon permits. He said he has no problem with law abiding citizens who have received training being allowed to carry concealed weapons into more public places.

The Sheriff thanked the Lion Club for their contribution to Lee County and thanked them for allowing him to be a guest speaker for over twenty years now.

Two Arrests Made For Drug Activity

John Frazier McIver Jr., 22, of 20 Ivey Drive, Sanford was arrested on 3-8-2011 and charged with possession with intent to sell Marijuana, maintaining a dwelling to store drugs, Conspiracy to sell Marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after county drug agents found him in possession of 430 grams of Marijuana and items of paraphernalia. He was placed in the Lee County Jail under $20,000 secured bond.

Dennis Maurice Minter, 27, of 641 Scott Avenue, Sanford was arrested on 3-8-2011 for possession with intent to sell Cocaine, possession with intent to sell Marijuana, maintaining a dwelling to store drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia after county drug agents found him in possession of 125 grams of Marijuana and 8 grams of Cocaine. He was placed in the Lee County Jail under $20,000 secured bond

2010 Accomplishments and Future Goals

The State of North Carolina Constitution sets out the duties and responsibilities for North Carolina Sheriffs. As the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in the county the duties of the Sheriff are: enforcing all local, state and federal laws, maintaining the security and safety of court system, operation of the county detention facility, collection and disbursement of all civil judgments, transportation of all mentally ill persons to and from mental institutions, criminal enforcement and investigations of crimes committed in this jurisdiction. In addition the Sheriff’s Office recently acquired the responsibility of the law enforcement of Animal Control in Lee County in an effort to better serve our citizens. All handgun permits and Concealed Carry Handgun permits are issued by the Sheriff’s Office.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has accomplished many milestones over the past four years with the commitment to providing strong community relations and the best level of service and care to our citizens. With an ever increasing demand on our resources, the Sheriff’s Office has learned to explore ways to increase the county’s strength in revenues. The department has managed over $1.2 million dollars in grant funding and seized over $400,000 in federal and state drug asset forfeiture money to help strengthen our agency. The department has seized more than 18 million dollars in narcotics over the past four years and currently has a member of the NC State Bureau of Investigation assigned to our office. Four of our drug agents are sworn as federal ICE agents and one with ATF.

The Sheriff’s Office managed over 16,345 calls for service in 2010, up from an average of 13,753 in 2009, 12,722 in 2008, 11,522 in 2007, and 10,681 in 2006. This number is expected to increase even more due to the addition of animal control enforcement. The department’s Uniform Crime Report Analysis continues to show improvement in the county’s crime rate. The department contributes to the increased effects of community policing, increased staffing, outreach programs like Sheriff’s Rising Stars Program for teens in the summer, National Night Out Events, active community watch groups, and increased visibilities of patrol deputies and better use of technology for patrol deputies.

The department is researching and plans to pursue accreditation with CALEA over the next few years. Only four sheriff’s offices in the State of North Carolina have accreditation which is recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism in an organization.

Sheriff Seen Reading Dr. Seuss Books?

As you get older, does one get tired of reading Dr. Seuss books? If you ask Sheriff Carter, he'll tell you "No Way!" Recently, Sheriff Carter was invited by school officials to participate in their reading program.


Pictured here is Sheriff Carter as he read Dr. Seuss stories to a classroom at Floyd L. Knight School this morning. (Nice hat...)

Department Captain Recognized By Local Cub Scouts

Local Cub Scout Pack 942 recently recognized Captain Kevin Kirkman with the Lee County Sheriff's Department for his significant accomplishments and contributions in mentoring young boys.

Kevin is shown here with the plaque from Cub Scout Pack 942. Kevin and his son, JT will now move from the Cub Scouts to Boy Scout Troop 942.