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f17dc9e6-ada1-48ed-8f6a-d9366c631115 < Back ADDITIONAL CHARGE FILED IN ROAD RAGE CASE October 10, 2025 Hillsborough, NC (October 10, 2025)- Last night, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) swore out a warrant against Samantha Russo for discharge firearm within enclosure to incite fear. When the warrant was served this evening, an Orange County Magistrate set a $10,000.00 secured bond for the defendant on this Class F felony. The charge stemmed from a road rage incident that occurred Sunday night, October 5, 2025. After receiving a 911 call, deputies pulled over the vehicle in which Russo, 36, was travelling. At the time of the traffic stop on Lebanon Road in Efland, deputies charged Russo with assault by pointing a firearm and seized the gun. OCSO officers also cited Nicholas Howle, 37, with aggressive driving and driving with an open container. Russo and Howle both live in Efland. The victims in the case reported that a red Honda Civic drove aggressively, passed them in a no-passing zone, and then cut back into their lane of travel. Then, the Civic stopped and Russo got out of the car and pointed a weapon at the passenger side of the victims’ vehicle before getting back into the car. As Howle resumed driving, the witnesses said Russo pointed the weapon out the window, toward the sky, and fired it twice. Prior to taking out the charges Sunday night, deputies reviewed relevant statutes and consulted with their supervisor. Because Russo did not fire the gun directly at a person, discharge the weapon into the victims’ car or dwelling place, or cause physical injury to anyone, deputies did not think they had probable cause to swear out a felony charge. On Monday morning, as is standard practice in complicated cases, investigators and administrators, including the sheriff’s legal advisor, continued to review the facts and circumstances of the traffic stop. The legal advisor found a recent North Carolina Court of Appeals ruling from August 2025, where the court analyzed the language of General Statutes § 14-34.10. In this case of first impression, the Court dedicated 14 pages of its decision to determining the meaning of the singular word ‘within’ that appears in the statute. The Court employed ordinary rules of grammar and canons of statutory interpretation and held that this statute requires that only the “person who willfully . . . discharges a firearm” with the intent to incite fear in another be within one’s own vehicle. (Their analysis ruled out alternate interpretations such as requiring both the person discharging the firearm and the victim be within the same occupied vehicle. The Court also rejected the assertion that this statute requires discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle or building.) Investigators consulted with the District Attorney’s office, and the DA supported adding the felony charge. Sheriff Charles Blackwood said, “I believe my deputies tried earnestly to do the right thing Sunday night. They spoke with all parties, collected evidence, and consulted with their supervisors to identify charges appropriate to the facts. It is not standard practice for deputies to take out misdemeanor charges for crimes that happen outside their presence; however, given the seriousness of the situation, they issued citations to compel the defendants to court. Still, I offer my apology to the victims in this case, as I understand their feeling that misdemeanor charges did not match the fear and trauma they experienced. I hope they take comfort that my staff and I did not stop after serving the citations. On Monday, we engaged our investigators, involved our attorney, identified a possibly applicable felony charge, and sought the District Attorney’s support. I hope these actions demonstrate that we take road rage situations very seriously.” Russo is still in custody as of 6:45 pm; and her court date is Monday at 2:00 pm. ### Previous Next 1/0

9e72b690-5cf3-422d-b9b9-a57233dd729a < Back EMPLOYMENT TERMINATED September 22, 2025 Hillsborough, NC (September 22, 2025) - Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood terminated the employment of Detention Officer Brian Edwards this morning. Chief Deputy T. Sykes placed Edwards on administrative leave Saturday, September 20, 2025, when the Sheriff’s Office learned of concerning social media posts allegedly made by Edwards and opened an investigation. The investigation confirmed violations of both the Standards of Conduct and the Speech, Expression, and Social Networking sections of the policy manual. Sheriff Blackwood terminated Edwards’ employment accordingly. “We must maintain the public trust as we go about our mission to protect, serve, and treat everyone with dignity and respect,” said Blackwood. ### Previous Next 1/0

5e975b5b-ef7a-44df-bcf0-f113b8351361 #35, New Detention Facility April 27, 2022 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood Last month, we moved all detention operations into our new facility on Highway 70 West. Our old site opened in 1925 with capacity for 34 people. Despite adding an annex in 1994 and renovating the kitchen in 2012, the 97-year-old facility was decades behind modern standards. Detention Officer Lisa Thompson characterized the move as the beginning of a new era. She said, “I’ve worked here for 20 years. When I was hired, they were talking about a new jail. It is so nice to finally have one.” For years, state inspectors with the NC Department of Health and Human Services cited us for multiple inadequacies. We weren’t passing inspections – in our obsolete facility, we couldn’t. Our kitchen, medical, and laundry facilities were insufficient, and in many cases either impossible or inordinately expensive to repair. Here’s just one example: a shower drain stopped working two or three years ago – a simple clog. After digging up the floor, we learned the cast iron pipe around the drain pipe had disintegrated. For a time, water was still able to pass through the concrete channel around the pipe, but eventually that failed as well. That “simple” drain problem cost $25,000 to fix. We also had numerous safety concerns, such as an inadequate suicide prevention cell and no sprinkler system. The cost to retrofit the jail with sprinklers? Almost two million dollars! Recognizing the momentous – and rare – nature of the occasion, we called the operational plan governing community safety during the move “Blue Moon.” With help from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and a State Bureau of Investigation task force, we moved 70 inmates from the old facility to the new one in a process that took over five hours and involved more than 80 people. We searched each person as they exited the old jail and again as they entered the new one. We also checked each person’s belongings for contraband before separately shuttling property to the new facility. Captain Katie Spear said we didn’t just move; we walked out of one dimension and into another. She is correct. The company that made the gates, keys, and locking mechanisms for the old facility has been out of business for years. We had difficulty finding anyone capable of making repairs. The new building has a state-of-the art electronic system. No one needs to walk around with rings of old style keys, fumbling to find the right one. Major Tim Jones is our Jail Administrator. He has noticed a drastically improved work flow in the new space. Detention officers seated at a centralized control tower open and shut electronic doors from a video console as other officers accompany residents to different parts of the building, such as to the medical area or to the attorney visitation booths. The new 48,900-square-foot facility has space for 144 inmates. We can now better serve their safety, security, and human service needs. We have a properly equipped kitchen, a larger laundry room, a better medical facility, a break room for employees, and adequate storage. Major Jones will have a supervisors meeting after all four squads rotate through day and night shift duty. At the meeting, he will collect observations and create a work flow punch list to improve our ability to maximize the modern capabilities of the facility. There are two workrooms within the secure part of the building. Community professionals and staff members from the Criminal Justice Resource Department will use these rooms to provide education and specialized programming designed to help residents of the facility make a successful transition back to the community. We are also pleased to have tablets available for inmate use. These devices allow video visits and text exchanges with loved ones; all such visits and communications are monitored. Although residents do not have access to the internet other than through the Paytel service, if a person takes an online anger management or drug education class, he or she can earn points toward watching a movie or playing an approved video game. There’s no way to sugarcoat it; the old facility was rough. Everyone associated with the new facility benefits from the improved air quality and the brighter, less cramped space. People confined there now live in a cleaner, more modern facility better suited to their often complicated needs; and the safer, brighter facility certainly boosts employee morale. We dreamed about this new detention center for two decades. Captain Spear said it best: “It feels like we went from a T-Rex to a Tesla.” Previous Next

955cc60a-4dc9-4409-82c7-0e5f275eea0c #71, Scams April 30, 2025 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood When people get scammed, they sometimes hesitate to report what happened because they are embarrassed. However, almost anyone can fall into a sophisticated trap and make a judgment error. Scammers are highly trained, and good at what they do. They take advantage of people by exploiting fear, hooking into a desire for easy money, or manipulating social isolation or loneliness. First, let’s look at fear scam examples. A person claiming to be a deputy calls, informing you of a warrant for your arrest for missing jury duty. Pay the bond AT ONCE or be in jail by suppertime. Perhaps you open a text from E-ZPass with a final reminder about unpaid tolls. PAY NOW or incur additional fines and face legal action. Maybe you get a call about your grandchild on spring break in a foreign county, now jailed because of bad judgment or hospitalized following a horrific car crash. Wire money WITHOUT DELAY before he or she misses the flight home or dies because of lack of medical care. If you hear high-pressure scare tactics like these, activate your skepticism. Remember that panic is the enemy of clear thought. Tell the deputy to call you back in 10 minutes. Ask yourself how E-ZPass would have your phone number. Think about why the “jail” or “hospital” called you, not your grandchild’s parent. One thing is certain. No representative of a legitimate agency will ask for payment in Walmart (or other) gift cards or crypto currency. Hang up on anyone who does. Likewise, no representative from a utility company, financial firm, or government office should have an issue if you ask for a written description of the alleged problem. Another common ruse is for scammers to look for people willing to forget common sense when faced with a great deal. For example, a scammer might offer to pay $5,000 for a car listed for $3,000 on Facebook Marketplace. Someone might offer to pay thousands of dollars to anyone willing to help him or her claim a large inheritance. In both cases, the scammer counts on the victim being so eager for easy money that he or she will eventually slip and act against his or her own self-interest. The best defense is to remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is! I think there is a special place in hell for those who take advantage of elderly, isolated, or lonely people. Some criminals form on-line relationships with teenagers and slowly build trust. Eventually, the scammer asks for and receives sensitive photos which he or she then uses to blackmail the victim. Other scammers target elderly people, perhaps those whose spouse recently died. As daily contact becomes a vital emotional connection, long-distance romance blossoms, soon followed by requests for ever-increasing amounts of money. Eventually, the victim ends up with an empty wallet and a broken heart. Worldwide, scammers bilked people out of more than an estimated trillion dollars in 2024. Often employed in organized call centers, they receive training, work from a script, and have fake credentials. Some even receive voice coaching to help them either exaggerate or minimize an accent. Unfortunately, artificial intelligence tools are increasing the sophistication of the industry even further. Although some scammers get caught and serve significant federal prison sentences, these crimes are difficult to prosecute. Call centers are often in other countries where we do not have arrest powers, and collaboration with overseas law enforcement agencies can be a complicated, slow process. Scammers use sophisticated layers of technology, including virtual private networks, encryption, and burner phones. They can make it appear they are calling from a local number, despite being thousands of miles away. They change numbers, networks, and tactics constantly, frustrating law enforcements’ efforts to ascertain patterns and gather sufficient evidence for arrest or conviction. Furthermore, scammers usually require hard-to-trace payment such as gift cards, bitcoin, or wire transfers. Reporting a scam to law enforcement rarely leads to recovering money, but it is still a good idea. We can help limit the possibility of additional loss by educating victims about next steps to take, including placing alerts with credit bureaus. Additionally, each victim’s experience helps investigators learn new patterns and emerging criminal trends, helping us prevent others from suffering similar losses. When it comes to scams, prevention is easier than prosecution. Please educate yourself about this growing problem. Share what you learn with family and friends, especially those who might be vulnerable. Watch our Facebook page to learn about increased local activity or new twists on old routines. Call our Community Services Division at 919-245-2921 for more information. ### Previous Next

dfd97faf-9715-416a-ba2d-6be6db9e442d #59, Compass Center April 24, 2024 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood The Compass Center is a non-profit agency dedicated to assisting people experiencing domestic violence. It provides a variety of services, all geared toward helping people navigate toward safety, stability, and empowerment, whether they are currently experiencing violence or recovering in the aftermath of such abuse. The Center directly helps people in crisis find their way out of unsafe, harmful relationships. It supports victims as they become survivors, and it provides educational programs about healthy relationship skills. Unfortunately, the Center is reeling from the loss of many traditional funding sources, and it is wrestling to meet the ever-growing demand for services despite a shrinking budget. In the last year, they eliminated five staff roles. They still provide crisis services, but they also had to reduce the number of support and educational programs they offer. Why do I care? Why should you? Also called intimate partner violence, domestic violence is a crime that harms our neighbors, their children, and our entire community. I am confident most adults in Orange County know at least one person currently living in an abusive relationship. Though the problem is pervasive, it is shockingly hard to see at times. It might help if we could stop thinking about domestic violence in terms of split lips or black eyes. Violence is much more than physical force resulting in injury. It also encompasses the abuse of power and the threat of harm to more than just the body. Violence includes manipulation, deprivation, sexual coercion, the weaponization of children, and deliberate financial oppression. Sadly, this list is by no means complete. The forms abuse can take are limited only by the imagination of the perpetrator. A dangerous relationship grows slowly. No one puts, “Looking for someone I can belittle, entrap, isolate, and beat,” in their dating app profile. Usually, by the time the victim realizes how unsafe he or she is, the escape routes available are narrow and treacherous. Some people are so stuck, they don’t ask for help leaving a partner. Instead, they seek advice on how to minimize injury during a beating, or what physical symptoms indicate the need for emergency medical care. Such heartbreaking questions reflect a profound hopelessness. People tend to think in simple terms, such as, “Victims should just leave.” The Compass Center understands the issues are far more complex. Generally speaking, a victim tries to leave an abusive relationship six times before achieving permanent independence. This statistic is frustrating to many people, but it speaks to the universal difficulty of the toxic relationship dynamic. Additionally, a person who needs to leave a relationship rarely has the independent financial means to do so. The Compass Center maintains three residential properties for those in crisis. Due to demand, these safe homes are almost always full. Staff receive five to ten additional requests for shelter per week that they are unable to fulfill. With 90% of survivors impacted by financial abuse, it is easy to see why most victims do not have the ability to pay for their own housing. Many choose to return to an unsafe relationship rather than face the dangers of living without secure shelter. Please join us at a reception on May 5, 2024, at the Sheraton in Chapel Hill. “Breaking the Silence-Building Connections,” an interactive event designed to educate and amplify, will speak of the importance of helping survivors and to our collective need for a safer, more supportive community. Please come meet staff and board members; hear about their passion for this important work. Learn more about the struggles victims face in their relationships and on the path to healing and independence. Explore the Compass Center’s crucial programs and services, including its unique safe homes model for temporary housing. This event will foster a welcoming environment for building community and breaking the silence surrounding intimate partner violence. Share light snacks and drinks, meet special guests, and enjoy an opportunity to win door prizes provided by community partners. If you can help by making an advance $20.00 donation, please do, but the Compass Center welcomes everyone interested in the event regardless of financial ability. https://tinyurl.com/CC-BreakingtheSilence The Sheriff’s Office Crisis Unit collaborates daily with staff and volunteers from the Compass Center. We see how hard they work and how much they care. I will be at the event, and I ask you to join me. Some of the stories you hear will surprise you; others will make you angry. All will convince you that this lifesaving, life-changing work is worthy of your support. Previous Next

ea16fd67-1ea1-41c7-bfdf-92a9b6a7beee #72, Peelian Principles Guide May 28, 2025 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood In 1829, Sir Robert Peel established three core ideas and nine principles central to ethical law enforcement. I encourage you to look him up. Often considered the father of modern policing, his almost 200-year-old work has aged quite well. The “Peelian Principles” continue to underpin my beliefs about ethical law enforcement and community relations. In brief, Peel’s core ideas state that law enforcement’s primary goal is to prevent crime, not catch criminals; public support is the key to crime prevention; and officers gain this support by respecting the community. I agree with Peel’s thinking. My team knows I expect professional, ethical, and empathetic behavior as we interact with the people we serve, and we enjoy widespread support. We recognize how special this support is. In recent years, the news media has pushed a narrative of widespread dissatisfaction with law enforcement, amplifying the voices of those clamoring to defund the police. Moreover, and perhaps most disingenuously, journalists hammered away at stories of extensive vacancies and officer attrition as if there were a dishonorable explanation for the departures. They frequently failed to provide the highly relevant context that the 1994 Crime Bill and financial grants from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program enabled the hiring of over 100,000 new officers and deputies in the United States leading to a significant reduction in crime. Thirty years later, those hires are completing their careers and earning retirement, just as do other civil servants such as teachers, health department workers, and courtroom clerks. Likewise, our agency congratulated many experienced deputies and detention officers on their retirements in recent years. Fortunately, we have not suffered the number of vacancies other agencies faced. We continue to enjoy a steady influx of talent as we hire people new to the profession and offer positions to seasoned professionals from other agencies. I like to think the word is out that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office delivers community confidence and safety, and it is easy to sell products you believe in. Success breeds success. Businesses want to open in communities where people feel safe to move about and explore. Criminals tend to avoid places bustling with positive energy, and as people feel safer, they stay out longer, spend more, and talk about how much they love the area in which they live. Thriving businesses seek out such vibrant communities, and as they grow, so does the commercial tax base. Local government then has additional resources to invest in schools and use for infrastructure improvements. As a rising tide lifts all boats, a thriving community also makes the area more attractive to people who want a public safety career. My office currently operates at 93% of our employment capacity, an enviable statistic. I am fortunate to have a recruiter who works hard to find qualified candidates, especially those who are a good fit for our agency. We serve in an honorable profession, and it is one with a lower barrier to entry than some others, as a college degree is not a prerequisite. A motivated candidate can complete the application process in 30-45 days. Once hired, a person starts working in the detention center, gaining experience, and eventually choosing whether to continue serving there, or to pursue the additional training necessary to become a deputy. If the new-employee already holds law enforcement certification when hired, they generally work in the detention center for a shorter period, meeting colleagues, learning our culture, and waiting for an opening in the field-training program. We begin incorporating new team members into the fabric of our agency immediately. First, and most importantly, we orient them to the standard of our office and make it clear that everyone must commit to upholding it. Second, we provide strong leadership and support from the top down as new employees acclimate to our brand of service-delivery. Third, we demonstrate that we value our employees, and we do so by investing in appropriate training and high-quality equipment. When people feel both committed to the mission and valued by the team, a culture of stability grows, benefitting the individual, the agency, and the broader community. Someone will wear the badge. I want to find the best and the brightest to have that privilege. Once hired, it is my job to lead in such a way that our employees believe serving with us is work worthy of their time and talents. If you or someone you know might be a good fit, please call Sergeant Glenn Powell at 919-245-2944. ### Previous Next

5b7a433e-bb35-4a1b-ae79-36303b6ffc1d #22, Bail Reform Part 3, Reform Initiatives March 31, 2021 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood In January, I reviewed the criminal processes used to compel defendants to appear in court. Last month, I discussed the initial appearance hearing during which a magistrate sets conditions of pretrial release. In this final installment of the three-part series, I review current reform efforts aimed at making the Orange County bail policy fair and equitable. Our criminal justice system holds a defendant is innocent until proven guilty; therefore, punishment is not supposed to begin until conviction. The purpose of bail is solely to ensure the accused’s appearance in court; no one should be held in jail simply because they are unable to afford bail. Such a practice would unfairly advantage wealthy defendants and essentially criminalize poverty. Unless the accused poses a threat to public safety, is likely to destroy evidence or intimidate witnesses, or seems likely to flee, he or she is entitled to freedom until convicted by the court system. Of the criminal processes used to compel someone to court, citations and criminal summonses do not require arrest, thereby automatically removing pre-trial incarceration from the equation. We encourage deputies to use a citation in lieu of arrest when possible, effectively placing the matter into the court system without depriving the accused of his or her liberty. Likewise, when magistrates hear testimony about an alleged crime, they are encouraged to use the least restrictive method to compel the defendant to answer to the charges. A criminal summons accomplishes this objective without requiring the defendant’s arrest, and is therefore preferable to a warrant. In cases where a person is arrested and brought before a magistrate, Orange County implemented the use of a Magistrate’s Structured Decision Making Tool in October 2020, making it the ninth county in North Carolina to adopt such a reform. Stakeholders designed the tool to prevent low-risk individuals from being incarcerated simply because they receive a bail amount beyond their financial means. Judicial District 30B (Haywood and Jackson counties) was the first to use such a tool; there, the percentage of cases receiving a pre-trial condition other than a secured bond increased 43.79%. Concurrently, the number of defendants incurring a new criminal charge during the pre-trial period increased by only 1.1% and the number of defendants failing to appear in court increased by only 1-2 percentage points over the levels seen before stakeholders introduced the tool. Additionally, the tool increases decision-making consistency across magistrates, provides necessary documentation for the next level of judicial review, and preserves magistrate discretion. Another cornerstone of bail reform is the county-funded Pretrial Services program, established in 2016. A case manager from Pretrial Services meets with each newly detained individual in the Detention Center to compile and verify information for judicial officials to use at the initial appearance hearing as they review bail and other pre-trail release conditions set by the magistrate. The case manager uses the Virginia Pretrial Risk Assessment – Revised. This assessment helps determine if a person can be released until the court date without supervision, or which of the four supervision levels will allow for safe management in the community. In many ways, pre-trial supervision resembles probation. Although supervision reduces a person’s individual liberty, it is far less restrictive than confinement in jail, and it seeks to balance the individual’s liberty interests against the community’s right to protection. Orange County is also investing in a more nuanced approach to responding to defendants charged with misdemeanors who fail to appear in court. Rather than the imposition of a mandatory secured bond and the resulting incarceration if a defendant cannot pay, as of January 19 of this year, the system attempts to provide a “second chance” to those missing a court date for the first time. A decision-making flowchart considers whether the failure to appear occurred because of work obligations, lack of transportation, childcare responsibilities, or lack of notice from the court. I am the vice chair of the Governor’s Crime Commission, and I serve on a subcommittee tasked with studying best practices for bail reform. We are dedicated to reviewing and improving the entire process rather than mindlessly continuing decades’ old practices. As a bonus, data show that many of these reforms are cost effective for tax payers – it is more expensive to keep people in custody than to monitor them in the community. We have a moral imperative to create fair, safe, and equitable processes that refuse to perpetuate a legacy of disparate treatment based on race or income level. Previous Next

6ba627be-4cca-4d68-a73e-8c5983243d8d #77, Specialized IPC Training Yields Results October 29, 2025 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood It is difficult to find something you aren’t looking for. If we go to a domestic violence call, it would be irresponsible to assume everything is okay just because both parties deny needing assistance. We therefore rely on our training to look for context clues that will provide more insight about the situation. Are items in disarray? Does someone have a bruised neck or scratched upper arms? If we separate the people involved, do they tell the same story? It is precisely knowing what to look for that often helps get a victim out of danger. Similarly, we know that swerving or failure to maintain a lane may suggest a person is driving while impaired. Therefore, we look for other clues. Are there empty beer cans in the vehicle? Are the driver’s eyes red or glassy? Does he or she seem clumsy while getting the registration out of the glove box? Almost half a million children are missing in the United States, but shockingly, very few law enforcement officers are trained to look for them actively. Therefore, we recently started sending deputies to a relatively new program called Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC). IPC is an evidence-based curriculum created by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Interdiction refers to intercepting movement, most often discussed in terms of disrupting drug trafficking on our highways. For example, officers on a drug interdiction team might know where the natural cavities in a vehicle are. They are also trained to look for signs of tampering or modification that might indicate large amounts of narcotics are concealed within. The goal of IPC is to broaden the perspective of law enforcement officers, teaching them how to identify missing children. Those with IPC training know that not every child in a vehicle is with a parent or other appropriate person. Believing that a child in the back seat will say, “Hi, I am Jane Doe, and this man kidnapped me three months ago” is not a reasonable expectation. Encountering a child is not the same as looking for a missing one. The IPC program, important everywhere, is especially critical in North Carolina, which is consistently ranked in the country’s top 10 states for human trafficking. We have several major interstate highways, a significant military presence, large agricultural areas, a booming tourism industry, and we are approximately halfway between Florida and New York, all of which are factors conducive to exploiting people for profit. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety provides the multi-disciplinary IPC training through the North Carolina Justice Academy. The program has four primary pillars: train officers to identify individuals who pose a high risk to children; equip officers to recognize children who are being exploited, abused, or trafficked; teach officers about the resources available to help them determine the status of a child who may be missing or at risk; and prevent future crimes, partly through the effective prosecution of people who exploit children in any manner. A deep dive into these pillars is beyond the scope of this article, but in brief, the first two pillars help law enforcement officers understand the coin has two sides. One is to identify what makes adult behavior suspicious; the other is to recognize how the actions of children and adolescents might provide clues to their status as victims. Those trained in IPC also understand why the presence of some objects and the absence of others might be cause for suspicion. The third pillar is critical. Officers need to know how to access resources immediately to facilitate rescue with minimal additional trauma. If they are unable to do that, officers log suspicious activity into a database that tracks patterns and searches for connections. The final pillar recognizes the complexity of these crimes and the important work of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys. The Conference prepares prosecutors to secure convictions in these complex, multijurisdictional criminal cases. Within weeks of attending the training, one of our deputies, while assisting another agency on a call involving a runaway, recognized something was “off.” He viewed the juvenile as more than a rebellious teen and noticed signs that she might now be caught in a dangerous web. Despite the hour, he arranged for expert resources. The resulting forensic interview revealed the teen had been commercially sex trafficked since she went missing. Moreover, the interview led to the rescue of a second victim and criminal charges against three co-conspirators. IPC is a mindset. Missing kids are out there. I want all my deputies trained to find them. Previous Next

bb62531e-d12f-41af-90f3-df20f0d81b03 #27, BLET and BDOT August 25, 2021 Sheriff Charles S. Blackwood Last month, I wrote about the benefits and difficulties of a public safety career. My life’s work is in a valuable profession, one with job-security and the incredible opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. In this month’s edition of The Lowdown, I am going to address the initial training necessary to begin such a career. As sheriff, I am responsible for enforcing laws, investigating crimes, providing for security of county courthouses, serving civil process paperwork, and the overall safety of Orange County. Additionally, I am responsible for the operation of the county detention facility, more commonly known as the jail. Deputies help me carry out the former functions and detention officers provide for the safety and well-being of those in my custody. Each role requires a specialized training program. Detention officers complete a five-week program, Basic Detention Officer Training (BDOT), while deputies receive their certification upon the successful completion of a 20-week Basic Law Enforcement Training class commonly called BLET. The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission is responsible for both certifications. I hire deputies with experience serving in other agencies as well as people brand new to law enforcement. New, uncertified hires initially serve in the detention center. Within a year, they are required to attend and successfully complete BDOT where they receive twenty-two separate blocks of instruction, including crisis intervention, preventing and responding to facility emergencies, conflict resolution, and the management and supervision of offenders. Once certified, they return to work in the detention center. After a year or so, an interested detention officer can ask to be considered for BLET, or they may continue to serve in the jail. Shortly after I became Sheriff, we started our own BLET academy. We felt it best for our community if cadets received training from people who understood the dynamics and needs of our region, and we knew we had talented instructors. Together with Durham Technical Community College, we created an academy pitched to a philosophical sweet spot. An overly militaristic program would not be conducive to our brand of friendly, trustworthy, and approachable service, but we still wanted to create a program with a standard of unwavering excellence. After seven years, our academy enjoys an excellent reputation; we recently began teaching our eighth class of cadets. These cadets face a rigorous program of academic work, practical skill building, and physical fitness training. I generally welcome the cadets early in the program; they don’t see me again until the school director and the training coordinator tell me, “We have our class.” By this, they mean the students who are unable to handle the rigor have washed out, and those capable of completing the course have gelled as a unit. At this point, I return to campus and present them with the class football, which is the outward symbol of my faith in them. The class leader protects the football for the rest of the course and returns it to me at the graduation ceremony. The football I will soon present to Class 8 is as pristine as it was on the day I gave it to Class 1. In addition to training cadets who will work for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, we enroll students from neighboring jurisdictions. The current class has students from my office, Person County Sheriff’s Office, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Duke University Police Departments. Each class has a motto, and each maintains a memory wall. On the wall, members paste a short tribute to every law enforcement officer who dies in the United States performing his or her duties during the duration of the class. This is always a very sobering list, but a powerful reminder of the importance of service and the willingness to sacrifice. Many cadets are employed by an agency during their time in the academy, as is the case when my detention officers seek to become deputies. Others come to the academy on their own time, but under the sponsorship of an agency. A sponsoring agency conducts the background check and certifies the student meets all requirements. Although sponsored students have tuition waivers for program costs (approximately $2,400.00 for an in-state student), they must buy their own books and uniforms, and there is no promise of employment. Our academy, however, enjoys a reputation for graduating law enforcement professionals dedicated to doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way, for the right reason; graduating cadets generally have no trouble finding a position in our area. If you think you might be interested in a rewarding career, please come see me. I’d love to tell you more about how you can get started. Previous Next

Learn more about Phone Calls & Texts in the Orange County Detention Center. Phone Calls & Texts Paytel provides call and text services for p eople housed in the detention center. Detainees must place phone calls; no incoming calls are accepted. Taxes and fees will be added to the costs listed below: Local calls are $.17 (cents) per minute All other calls are $.21 (cents) per minute. Text messages are $.10 (cents) each to send. The detainee must send the first text message. Create an account at paytel.com

8ced9d35-ac4d-4d69-a17c-be16ac9d82d4 < Back TWO FACE CHARGES FOR CRIMES IN NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES December 16, 2025 Hillsborough, NC (December 16, 2025) – Two males from Durham each face multiple criminal charges after deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigated a November series of vehicle break-ins. The break-ins and related crimes occurred on Red Hill Lane and Seven Springs Road, two neighboring communities off Highway 70 East outside the city limits of Hillsborough. Investigators served warrants on one of the men on Sunday, December 15, 2025. Although he is now 18 years old, his status as a juvenile at the time of the crimes protects the release of his identity. He is in the Orange County Detention Center under no bond. His associate, Jostin Josue Ramirez-Duarte, also 18, is currently in the Chatham County Detention Center for unrelated crimes, and deputies there will soon serve the Orange County warrants. The two males arrived in a vehicle in the early morning hours of Friday, November 21, 2025, and traveled between the two neighborhood with a flashlight. They pulled on door handles and entered unlocked vehicles, stealing a firearm, tools, $600 cash, purses, keys, and garage door openers. They also stole a vehicle that night which law enforcement officers in Durham recovered unoccupied after a crash Friday afternoon. The same people returned to Red Hill Lane and Seven Springs Road on November 22, again in the early hours, and committed additional crimes. Deputies canvassed the neighborhoods, knocked on doors, and asked people if they saw or heard anything. These contacts led to several residents checking their vehicles and realizing that they also had been victimized. Footage from several home security systems helped investigators piece together the pairs’ movements and activities through the two small neighborhoods. Evidence left behind in the wrecked vehicle also helped investigators determine the identity of the persons involved. Both men face the following felony charges: 22 counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle. Larceny of a motor vehicle. Larceny of a firearm. First-degree burglary to a residence. Attempted first-degree residential burglary. Three counts of breaking and entering sheds and other outbuildings. In addition, each faces two misdemeanor charges – one for an attempted break-in to a vehicle, and the other a larceny. Sheriff Charles Blackwood said, “We cannot stress enough how important it is for people to remove valuables from their vehicle every time they leave it unattended. I’ve heard some say they do not lock their doors because they do not want a thief to have a reason to break the windows. Personally, I believe making it easy for others to steal your belongings is just a different costly risk, one that is even greater for those who carry weapons in their vehicles.” Anyone with additional information is asked to call Sergeant K. Goodwin, the lead investigator, at (919) 245-2918. Previous Next 1/0

00775fbf-15fd-448f-9896-2a79098b619e < Back 𝗔 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗼, 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 November 19, 2025 The presence of federal immigration authorities in the Triangle area brings fear to our communities – fear among and for neighbors, coworkers, friends, and loved ones. Here’s what we want you to know: • We do not participate in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations and are not included in the planning or carrying out of any federal immigration enforcement activities. • If you, or someone you know, are vulnerable to immigration enforcement operations, please stay tuned to trusted news sources, know your rights, and have a plan. • You can reach out to one of the many local organizations supporting vulnerable community members. We will continue to be in close contact and share information with the leaders of these organizations. In this time of heightened fear, we want to assure our community – especially our most vulnerable residents – that we will continue to protect and serve all community members. Sheriff Charles Blackwood Orange County Chief Celisa Lehew Town of Chapel Hill Chief Chris Atack Town of Carrboro Chief Jason Winn Town of Hillsborough 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 Siembra NC Support Resources www.siembranc.org/en-toolkit/defend-yourself-from-ice-and-know-your-rights Hotline information: www.siembranc.org/la-migra-hotline ; 336-543-0353 El Centro Hispano Information on safety protocols, preparedness, or Power of Attorney, please call (919) 283-6062. For attorney referrals, legal information, and legal resources, call (919) 307-1995. For any other need or service request, please call (919) 687-4635; (919) 945-0132; (984) 208-2158. As community needs grow, volunteers who are willing to assist with outreach, deliveries support, and community safety efforts are welcomed. Your time and presence can help expand capacity and reach more families in need. Please contact mrocha@elcentronc.org . Know Your Rights (English) https://chambermaster.blob.core.windows.net/userfiles/UserFiles/chambers/9250/File/El_Centro_Hispano/Know-Your-Rights-Packet-English.pdf National Immigration Law Center Employer Guide Explore the North Carolina Justice Center’s comprehensive resources for immigrants, including multilingual “Know Your Rights” guides, family preparedness toolkits, and information on accessing health care and public benefits. www.ncjustice.org/resources-for-immigrants/ Safe Families Guide for Immigrants - https://elpueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SAFE-FAMILIES.pdf The Orange County Civil Rights and Civic Life department page has resources and information available: www.orangecountync.gov/KnowYourRights 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗷𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗷𝗲𝗳𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰í𝗮 𝗱𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 La presencia de autoridades federales de inmigración en el área del Triángulo siembra el miedo en nuestras comunidades: miedo por nuestros vecinos, compañeros de trabajo, amigos y seres queridos. Esto es lo que necesita saber: • No participamos en las operaciones de Control de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE) ni de Protección de Fronteras y Aduanas (CBP) y no estamos incluidos en la planificación ni puesta en marcha de ninguna actividad federal de control de inmigración. • Si usted, o alguien que conoce, se encuentra vulnerable ante las operaciones de aplicación de las leyes de inmigración, esté atento a fuentes de noticias de confianza, conozca sus derechos y tenga un plan. • Puede ponerse en contacto con una de las muchas organizaciones locales que apoyan a los miembros vulnerables de la comunidad. Seguiremos en estrecho contacto y compartiremos información con los líderes de estas organizaciones. En este momento de miedo, queremos asegurarles a todos, especialmente a nuestros residentes más vulnerables, que continuaremos protegiendo y sirviendo a todos los miembros de la comunidad. Sheriff Charles Blackwood Orange County Jefe Celisa Lehew Ciudad de Chapel Hill Jefe Chris Atack Ciudad de Carrboro Jefe Jason Winn Ciudad de Hillsborough ### 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗼𝘀 Recursos de asistencia de Siembra NC: www.siembranc.org/en-toolkit/defend-yourself-from-ice-and-know-your-rights Información telefónica: www.siembranc.org/la-migra-hotline ; 336-543-0353 El Centro Hispano Si necesita información sobre protocolos de seguridad, preparación o poderes notariales, llame al (919) 283-6062. Para recomendaciones de abogados, e información y recursos jurídicos, llame al (919) 307-1995. Si tiene alguna otra necesidad o busca un servicio, llame a (919) 687-4635; (919) 945-0132; (984) 208-2158. A medida que vaya creciendo nuestra comunidad, necesitaremos voluntarios para asistir en los esfuerzos de divulgación, distribución de ayuda y seguridad comunitaria. Su tiempo y su presencia nos ayudarán a ampliar nuestras capacidades y a llegar a más familias necesitadas. Escríbanos a mrocha@elcentronc.org . Conozca sus derechos (en inglés) https://chambermaster.blob.core.windows.net/userfiles/UserFiles/chambers/9250/File/El_Centro_Hispano/Know-Your-Rights-Packet-English.pdf Guía para empleadores del Centro Nacional de Legislación sobre Inmigración: Explore todos los recursos para inmigrantes del Centro de Justicia de Carolina del Norte, incluidas las guías multilingües "Conozca sus derechos", los kits de herramientas de preparación familiar y la información sobre el acceso a atención médica y beneficios públicos. www.ncjustice.org/resources-for-immigrants/ Guía para la seguridad de las familias inmigrantes: https://elpueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SAFE-FAMILIES.pdf La página del Departamento de Derechos Civiles y Vida Cívica de Orange County ofrece recursos e información: www.orangecountync.gov/KnowYourRights Previous Next 1/0