Riegelwood, NC – On October 12, 2019, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office joined forces with neighboring law enforcement agencies to conduct a checking station at the intersection of Hwy 87 and 11 in Riegelwood.
The goal of this combined enforcement effort was to ensure compliance of the motor vehicle codes and to reduce motor vehicle accidents, injuries, and death associated with impaired driving. Columbus County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Forensic Test for Alcohol Branch of NCDHHS to provide their BAT Mobile Unit for the checking station. The BAT (Breath Alcohol Testing) Mobile Unit is equipped with a Magistrate’s Office, multiple breath alcohol testing stations equipped with Evidential Breath Alcohol testing instruments, finger printing equipment, and other necessities required to conduct a large scale checking station.
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At 9:00 pm, law enforcement officers converged at the intersection of Hwy 87 and Hwy 11. The checking station ended at 12:00 am. As a result of this operation, fifty-two (52) traffic and criminal violations were charged. Four (4) arrests were made including three (3) DWI arrests and one (1) arrest for an outstanding warrant. Wayntrell Kelon Brown, 31, of Riegelwood was arrested and charged with Driving While Impaired. Irma Cruz, 54, of Riegelwood was arrested and charged with Driving While Impaired. Rasaan Eugene Ware, 31, of Pennsylvania was arrested and charged with Driving While Impaired. Aaron Kendrick Benton, 28, of Kelly was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Bladen County.
The following are a list of the violations from NC Checking Station:
4 – Drug Related
1 – Insurance Violations
1 – Tint Violations
4 – Seatbelt Violations
1 – Child Restraint Violations
6 – No License
5 – Driving while License Revoked
2 – Failure to Carry License Violation
10 – Tag Violations
7 – Inspection Violations
1 – Equipment Violation
6 – Open Container Violations
4 – DWI
Columbus county sheriffs office posted The following statement, “We would like to sincerely thank each officer and agency that participated in this operation. Thank you for your time and dedication!”
The following agencies participated in this checking station:
North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Forensic Test for Alcohol Branch of NCDHHS
Columbus County Magistrate S. Norris
Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office
Whiteville Police Department
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