All in Crime
Today, October 2, 2026, at approximately 11:15 a.m., the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office responded to a call on Jonestown Road. When deputies arrived, one deputy was shot. Deputies took cover and called for backup. A second deputy was shot while deputies were trying to get the individual to come out of the home.
Impaired Driver Arrested Following Pursuit on U.S. 70. A CRT deputy located the vehicle traveling approximately 20 MPH in a posted 55 MPH zone and observed the driver repeatedly fail to maintain lane control. While attempting to conduct a traffic stop, the driver failed to stop and continued eastbound on U.S. 70.
On September 28, 2026, detectives with the Kinston-Lenoir Drug Task Force continued their investigation into Khalil Dail regarding the distribution of marijuana.
On the evening of Friday, September 25, 2026, Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reduction Team hosted a GHSP Saturation Patrol with partnering agencies across eastern North Carolina. During this event 43 law enforcement officers from twelve agencies, including Deputies, Officers, and Troopers, focused on dangerous driving and motor vehicle violations throughout Lenoir County. During the five-hour operation, 116 charges were issued with 67 warnings given.
On September 18th, 2026 Virgil Todd Chase, 45, of Lenoir County was arrested for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements under North Carolina law.
Detectives with the Kinston-Lenoir Drug Task Force initiated an investigation into 43-year-old Jesse Williams for his alleged involvement in the distribution of crack cocaine from a residence on the 500 block of Fields Street.
Michael Antonio Weston was arrested on September 23, 2026, for failing to comply with North Carolina sex offender registration requirements.
On September 22, 2026, at approximately 9:37 p.m., Kinston Police Department C-Squad officers responded to a disturbance near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Fields Street.
The Kinston-Lenoir Drug Task Force identified a pattern of organized criminal activity involving a residence in the 300 block of Lenoir Street in La Grange. As a result of the investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence.
On September 19, 2026, KPD’s B-Squad conducted a traffic stop on E. New Bern Road. The vehicle was being operated by 59-year-old Loyd Whitley.
NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kenji Chiba Jerkins, 31, to over 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute large quantities of meth in Lenoir County. Jerkins pled guilty to these crimes on June 18, 2026.
Detectives with the Kinston-Lenoir Narcotics Task Force recently assisted the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Probation and Parole, with compliance checks at multiple residences throughout the City of Kinston and Lenoir County.
On September 11, 2026, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office regarding a suspect who had stolen a vehicle and fled the scene with a small child. Deputies immediately responded to an address in La Grange, where the suspect, Austin Riggs, a resident of Lenoir County, had barricaded himself inside a residence.
Last night, (September 8, 2026) we received several inquiries regarding a large police presence at AutoZone, located at 4021 W. Vernon Avenue.
On August 27, 2026, deputies with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Burncoat Road in reference to a stolen motor vehicle.
On August 26, 2026, deputies and narcotics detectives with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office arrested Markie Koonce of Kinston after he was found in possession of illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia inside the Lenoir County Courthouse.
Two Lenoir County women have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in a COVID-era rental assistance fraud case involving more than $187,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
On August 22, 2026, Deputies with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office responded to an address in Pink Hill regarding a reported domestic assault. The original caller advised Communications that a firearm may be inside the residence.
On August 22, 2026, at approximately 11:20 p.m., deputies with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office C-Shift responded to the area of Woodington Middle School in reference to a reported stolen motorcycle.
Kinston police reported multiple weekend arrests involving a firearm with an altered serial number, fentanyl and marijuana seizures, larceny, and cocaine-related charges from Aug. 21-24.
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