Latest news with #RaleighPoliceDepartment
International Business Times
05-07-2025
- International Business Times
Raleigh Mother was Allegedly 'Getting High' During Grease Fire She Caused that Killed Two of Her Children
A Raleigh mother has been arrested in connection with a grease fire that claimed the lives of two of her children last fall after an investigation by authorities revealed negligence on the mother's part led to the tragedy. Rodreika Porter, 34, was arrested by Ahoskie Police Department officers on Thursday and charged by the Raleigh Police Department on two counts of felony child neglect inflicting serious bodily injury. At about 6 a.m. on Sept. 29, 2024, firefighters and police officers arrived at the Porter's Raleigh residence following reports of a house fire. A 1-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy were inside the residence at the time of the fire and were pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. Witness Claims Porter was Not Home at the Time of the Fire, She was 'Up the Block Getting High' The details that emerged in the subsequent months helped police build a case against Porter. The mother was not home at the time of the fire, according to court records obtained by Raleigh-based NBC affiliate WRAL. The report also included a witness statement to police that said she was "up the block getting high during the fire." Moreover, while Porter denied at the scene taking drugs or medication in the lead-up to the fire, a social worker reportedly said the mother "tested positive for fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana," and may also have drunk alcohol, authorities say. Search Warrant States Porter was the One Who Caused the Fire While Cooking And while Porter was reportedly not at home as the fire raged, a search warrant reviewed by the outlet suggests she is the one who caused it – as "the mother of the children was heating a pan with oil to cook pork chops, but fell asleep, leaving the stove on." The exact sequence of events are unclear, as the warrant also states Porter was awakened by smoke from the grease fire, contradicting the witness' claim that she was "up the block" at the time of the fire. According to court documents, as soon as Porter learned about the fire, he grabbed her children and went outside, knocking on neighbors' doors and screaming for help, authorities say. Neighbors shared with WRAL at the time how they were awakened to a harrowing scene. "We just hear banging, banging, banging, banging, banging, banging and screaming. We wake up, we come outside, she comes around the corner, and the woman is just holding her children," an unidentified witness stated. "They're lifeless." Porter is not have needed medical attention from the fire, according to authorities.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
2 arrested in Mother's Day shooting at Big Ed's restaurant in North Raleigh
A pair of neighbors have been charged in a Mother's Day fight and shooting at a Raleigh restaurant, police announced Monday. Jermaine Mitchell, 51, and Alexander Barnes, 23, were arrested in the Sunday incident at Big Ed's on Falls of Neuse Road, according to a Raleigh Police Department news release. The men live on the same block of Polanski Drive in Wake Forest, their arrest warrants show. Mitchell is charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, while Barnes is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious injury, discharging a firearm in city limits and three counts of assault on a female, according to court records. Court documents don't specify if the men knew one another or who was on what side of the fight. Police were called to a report of a fight at the restaurant just before noon, The News & Observer previously reported. Two people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries from the fight, and one person was grazed by a bullet. The circumstances preceding the fight aren't clear, but Barnes is accused of shooting a black handgun at least three times, according to his arrest warrant. He also allegedly punched three women in the face and assaulted two women with his handgun, the warrant states. Mitchell, meanwhile, allegedly assaulted a male relative of one of the women with a chair, according to his arrest warrant. Big Ed's will be closed through Tuesday evening for 'our staff to be with loved ones and to rest,' according to a Facebook post previously reported by The N&O. The restaurant thanked the Raleigh Police Department, Wake County EMS and the Raleigh Fire Department for their help. 'We extend our sincerest appreciation — and deepest concern — to our customers,' the statement said. 'We hold you in our hearts today. We love you and appreciate all that you do for our restaurant.' Mitchell was released on an unsecured bond but must not contact the alleged victim, according to his release order. Barnes was being held without bail as of Monday evening. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, police said.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man in Raleigh gets 23 years for drug trafficking
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — On Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025, a Wake County man was sentenced to more than 23 years in prison on drug charges. Myquan Taquil Houston, aka 'Dirty,' pled guilty on January 13, 2025, to the offenses of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Court documents say that Houston and another person sold fentanyl to a confidential informant five times in Raleigh. Houston's house in Knightdale, North Carolina was searched by officials on July 26, 2025. They found 502.29 grams of cocaine, 41.54 grams of cocaine base (crack), 134.46 grams of fentanyl and ANPP, 26.6 grams of Oxycodone, digital scales, a loaded .45 caliber handgun, two cellphones, and $7,970 in U.S. currency. After investigation, Houston sold around $1,400 of fentanyl every other week for at least a year prior to his arrest, which made him responsible for 1,590.46 grams of fentanyl and 635.1 grams of cocaine. Houston had prior convictions for felony breaking and entering and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and a quantity of cocaine base (crack), distribution of a quantity of cocaine, and aiding and abetting. He was also on federal supervised release in the Eastern District of North Carolina at the time of these offenses. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Daniel P. Bubar made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aria Q. Merle prosecuted the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Texas man arrested in Creola on kidnapping, assault charges: Raleigh PD
CREOLA, Ala. (WKRG) — A Texas man was arrested in Creola on Tuesday on kidnapping and assault charges out of North Carolina, according to the Raleigh Police Department. Mother of bus crash victims sues driver and MCPSS transportation director A news release from RPD said that on March 30, officers were called to 200 Wolf Way for a report of a burglary. When officers arrived, they said they learned that the suspect, now identified as 49-year-old Marshaun Lynn Robinson, had physically and sexually assaulted a woman after breaking into a home. By the time officers arrived, Robinson had left the scene. Back in Mobile County, Robinson was arrested by Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Creola Police Department officers on March 31. Robinson is charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree forcible sexual offense, felony larceny, and assault on a female. According to the Mobile County Jail log, Saraland Police Department has a hold on Robinson for attempting to elude, reckless endangerment and failure to inform. Robinson is expected to be extradited from Mobile to Wake County, N.C. Mobile woman faces murder charge in Mardi Gras queen's death Anyone with information is asked to contact RPD at 919-996-1193. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
27-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell laid out priorities for the next 2 years
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell says building more housing and hiring additional police officers and firefighters top her priority list for her first term. State of play: Cowell, a veteran of both local and state politics, said in her first state of the city address Wednesday that growth is the "defining issue in our city." Driving the news: Cowell has been in office for a little more than 100 days, a period marked by several key decisions like taking initial steps to moving Red Hat Amphitheater and launching a pilot program to address homelessness. She's also used the time to build relationships with City Council members and staff, and to lead strategy workshops for the rest of her term. Zoom in: Cowell laid out four areas that she will prioritize: housing, public safety, transportation and quality of life. Housing continues to be a paramount issue, with Cowell saying there is a 37,000-unit housing shortage in the city today. "One of the things we all agreed on at our workshop is that we need mixed-income, mixed-use housing ... so that we can continue to make progress to house people in the city," she said. In her first 100 days, the council has approved a potential 3,000 new units across 13 projects — five of which had elements of affordable housing, she said. "We are definitely working on trying to increase the housing supply." Public safety: Cowell is hopeful that after the next police academy class graduates this summer, the Raleigh Police Department will have no remaining vacancies. But she said over the next two years she wants to increase pay for public safety workers in the city to increase retention and grow the number of police officers and firefighters to keep up with the population growth — something outgoing Police Chief Estella Patterson has called for. Transportation: Despite some uncertainty in Washington over federal dollars, Raleigh will continue to prioritize its transit projects, like the Bus Rapid Transit project and S-Line rail expansion, Cowell said. "We are going to be lobbying the federal government to try and keep our money," she said. "I am working with the other mayors of Wake County to write letters to the whole delegation. In fact, the mayor of Holly Springs is up in D.C. right now delivering those letters." Raleigh is still trying to re-work its bidding process on the New Bern Avenue section of the Bus Rapid Transit line after failing to receive a suitable construction bid. Quality of life: Cowell, the former CEO of the Dix Park Conservancy, said she is committed to increasing the number of parks and green spaces that make the city more resilient to extreme weather.
