crime

Police: Navy veteran dies in Asheboro shooting on Veteran’s Day

Police: Navy veteran dies in Asheboro shooting on Veteran’s Day

ASHEBORO – A Navy veteran was killed in the city on Veteran’s Day in an incident that was reported as part of an armed robbery, according to information provided from Asheboro Police Department. David Matthew Davis, 39, died inside 64 Skillz, based on an initial police report. The Davis family provided information to police about the deceased’s background. Davis was an employee of 64 Skillz. The business owner indicated to police that he’ll put up a cash reward to help obtain information to assist police in the case. At 7:30 a.m. Monday, officers with the Asheboro Police Department were dispatched…
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Liberty teen’s death brings protests, charges

Liberty teen’s death brings protests, charges

GRAHAM – The death of a teenager Daniela Trejo Mendiola near Liberty has led to controversy and then an arrest last week. The accident occurred in rural Alamance County not far from the Randolph County line. Mendiola, 17, was a pedestrian when she was struck after dark on the night of Aug. 20 along Oak Grove Church Road. Despite the identity revealed of the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident, about two weeks passed without further resolution in the case. Last week, demonstrations took place in downtown Graham with protesters demanding justice. Then charges were filed Sept. 4…
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Asheboro shooting leads to charges, suspect jailed

Asheboro shooting leads to charges, suspect jailed

ASHEBORO – Charges have been filed after a shooting last week on North Fayetteville Street. Alexander Pulido, 21, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, shooting into an occupied vehicle, going armed to the terror of the public, injury to personal property and discharge of a firearm in city limits, according to information from the Asheboro Police Department. The alleged incident occurred around 3 p.m. Aug. 15 in the street’s 1400 block. Pulido was jailed under no bond.  The victim was Cedric Lee Jr., who was transported to a hospital in Guilford…
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Man flees police, enters Asheboro house before arrest

Man flees police, enters Asheboro house before arrest

ASHEBORO – An Asheboro man fled from a traffic stop and barricaded himself in his residence on West Presnell Street on Tuesday. Four elderly residents were also inside the home, Asheboro Police said. The incident ended with the arrest of Michael Wilcox, 53. The police report says police attempted to conduct a traffic stop late Tuesday morning, when the driver refused to stop, drove a short distance, exited his vehicle and entered a house. The residents were removed from the home and transported to a local senior facility, police said. By mid-afternoon, the Asheboro Police Department's SWAT team entered the…
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Charges upgraded on youth in Asheboro shooting case

Charges upgraded on youth in Asheboro shooting case

ASHEBORO – There are upgraded charges against the youth who has been arrested regarding the death of Southwestern Randolph High School student Pedro Ortiz-Perez. The unnamed suspect, whose name isn’t being released because of his age (16), faces upgraded charges of first-degree murder. That came after a grand jury session earlier this month. The suspect remains in a juvenile detention facility in Rowan County. Ortiz-Perez died May 14 from gunshot wounds stemming from a shooting nearly two weeks earlier near North Asheboro Park. He was a high school soccer player and near the end of his sophomore year at Southwestern…
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Area crime briefs: Teen faces charges after gunshots in Asheboro

Area crime briefs: Teen faces charges after gunshots in Asheboro

ASHEBORO – A teenager faces charges after gunshots were fired in the city late last month. Asheboro Police charged Kelvin Amad Cook, 18, with six counts of discharging a firearm inside city limits, two counts of injury to personal property, going armed to the terror of the public and resisting a public officer. He received a $25,000 secured bond. The alleged incident took place at approximately 7:50 p.m. May 24 in the area of South Church Street, West Wainman Avenue and Independence Drive. Officers arriving in the area had a short foot pursuit before detaining Cook and recovering a Taurus…
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Parents of shooting suspect in Asheboro fatality face felony charges

Parents of shooting suspect in Asheboro fatality face felony charges

ASHEBORO – The Asheboro Police Department obtained warrants for the parents of a teenage suspect in a fatal shooting earlier this month. They’ve been charged with aiding the suspect in evading arrest. Both the mother, Denisse Vera-Covarrubias, and the father, Alfredo Martinez Ramirez, were placed in Randolph County Jail, the police department said. Pedro Ortiz-Perez died May 14, nearly two weeks after a shooting near North Asheboro Park. Ortiz-Perez, 16, was a member of the high school boys’ soccer team at Southwestern Randolph. Vera-Covarrubias, 43, was taken into custody at her home and transported to the jail with a felony…
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Man charged with murder after Franklinville shooting

Man charged with murder after Franklinville shooting

ASHEBORO – A Franklinville man was expected in Randolph County District Court today to face murder charges. Randolph County Sheriff's Deputies arrested Roy Clay Williams, 54, for murder on Tuesday, after responding to a report of gunshots and finding a woman dead at the residence on Clark Avenue in Franklinville. Williams was being held without bond at Randolph County Jail after being booked just before midnight on Feb. 27, 2024. He was expected in Randolph County District Court in the morning. Jail records show Williams with a home address identical to the one police were dispatched to, but law enforcement…
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Escapee caught in Liberty

Escapee caught in Liberty

Ronnie Dwayne East (N.C. Department of Adult Correction) LIBERTY – A Raleigh prisoner with Randolph County ties was apprehended near Ramsey Julian Road in Liberty on Friday at least a couple of hours after he left a Raleigh work site. Ronnie Dwayne East, 41, was captured by Randolph County sheriff’s deputies around 5:10 p.m. He had been discovered missing shortly after 3 p.m. based on information from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. Based on reports from law enforcement, East stole a state-owned pickup truck from the work site. Upon his capture, East was transported to another correctional facility.…
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Pipe bombs, fugitive keep sheriff’s department on alert

Pipe bombs, fugitive keep sheriff’s department on alert

RANDLEMAN – A couple of notable crime reports came during the past week from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. A citizen contacted sheriff’s office communications because of what appeared to be the uncovering of pipe bombs. The sheriff’s office responded to Providence Church Road in Randleman. Deputies on the scene saw pictures taken by the person and confirmed that these were “consistent with the construction of explosive material.” Area residents were asked to evacuate and the Greensboro Police Department Bomb Squad was called in for assistance. Two viable devices and five partially constructed devices were identified and destroyed. The sheriff’s…
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