On Thursday morning, the 911 Center of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call about a female in the Farmers Union area of Bladen County being held against her will by her boyfriend. Deputies and investigators along with the North Carolina Probation and Parole went to the location to check on the female.
Upon arrival at the residence, law enforcement located Tiffany Nichol Jackson, 27 years of age along with two children. According to the Sheriff’s report, the suspect, Elbert Justin Graham, 29 years of age from, 358 Farmers Union Road in Clarkton, North Carolina, was not at the residence.
Law enforcement reported signs of domestic violence on Jackson’s body and Jackson confirmed that she had been beaten by Graham sometime within the past few day, according to the report.
While law enforcement was at the residence, Graham passed by in a Honda mini-vann and officer’s pursued Graham who was stopped and was arrested for assault on a female. During the arrest, a shotgun was located in the vehicle. Graham was the also charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and two counts of Felony Probation Violation. Graham’s bond was set at $125,000 secure.
“I am very pleased that our officers along with probation and parole were able to get Ms. Jackson and her children out of harm’s way. Domestic Violence situations are very dangerous and it is our responsibility by law to take actions when we observed physical signs of domestic violence”, said Sheriff Jim McVicker.
Ms. Marjorie Walker with Families First has promoted the awareness of domestic violence for years here in Bladen County.
Ms. Walker and Families First define domestic violence as a violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner.
According to the non-profit, some Red Flags are:
- Looking or acting in ways that scare you
- Keeping or discouraging you from seeing friends and/or family
- Taking your money or refusing to give you money for expenses
- Preventing you from making your own decisions
- Telling you that you are a bad parent or threatening to harm or take away your children
- Preventing you from working or attending school
- Blaming you for the abuse, or acting like it’s not really happening
- Destroying your property or threatening to hurt or kill your pets
- Intimidating you with guns, knives, or other weapons
- Shoving, slapping, choking, or hitting you
- Attempting to stop you from pressing charges
- Threatening to commit suicide because of something you’ve done
- Threatening to hurt or kill you
Abuse can come in the form of sexual assault. The term sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim.
Some forms of sexual assault include:
- Attempted rape
- Fondling or unwanted sexual touching
- Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts such as, oral sex, or penetrating the perpetrator’s body.
- Penetration of the victim’s body, also known as rape.
If you or someone you know needs assistance due to domestic violence, contact Ms. Walker at Families First, Inc. Their office is located on Broad Street in Elizabethtown. Their phone number is 910-862-2534.
Their 24/7 Crisis Line is 910-641-0444.
For more information about recognizing the signs of domestic violence, or how to receive assistance visit Families First’s website at, http://www.familiesfirstnc.org.
About Author
