Crack "Room Service" Halted At Sanford Motel

WRAL Reports on Drug Unit Undercover Sting Operation

"At the Sanford Motel, room service included crack cocaine, according to Lee County sheriff’s deputies. “Mostly they called the front desk, implied what they wanted, and it was delivered to them,” Capt. John Holly said. On Friday, after a six-week undercover operation, deputies arrested the motel’s owner and two employees for selling and delivering cocaine. Kenneth Lee Haggerty, 39, the owner; Cathy Bryant Tyner, 44, the live-in motel operator; and Dennis Martin Farmer,24, Haggerty's son who also lived at the motel, were all arrested. Haggerty and Tyner were charged with multiple counts of sale and delivery of cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, and conspiracy to sell and deliver cocaine. Farmer was charged with possession with intent to sell and distribute cocaine."

See the video-"Lee County Collecting 'Substance Tax' From Drug Defendants"

Courtesty-WRAL TV-5

Sheriff Carter Gets a Tip--And A Second Arrest!!

The Bob the Bounty Hunter Show Is Working! --Update Second Fugitive Arrested

Sheriff Tracy Carter, in his 3rd appearance on Bob the Bounty Hunter, announced the arrest of Robby Neal Knight. Knight is being charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen goods. When a Lee County resident saw the photo on the G105 website, they called in a tip and Knight was arrested. Sheriff Carter added another name today - Robert Samuel Vogel - as well as asked for information concerning a house invasion on December 4th.

Update-Ronald Samuel Vogel who owes $8,698.68 in past due child support was arrested last week based on tips from Bob the Bounty Hunter.

Sheriff Busts Gambling Casino

Sheriff Tracy Carter and detectives from the drug enforcement unit took a short ride around the block on Monday to the Kendall Service Center at 1507 S. Horner Blvd--right across from the court house. Alcohol, cash, poker chips and full-scale gambling tables were seized from a hidden room in the Sanford garage.

Read the story on WRAL-TV
See the newscast.

Sheriff Rings In Christmas Spirit

Sheriff Rang Bell and Manned The Kettle

From 6-8 pm Friday, December 22, customers at Lowes Foods of Sanford at Spring Lane Galleria found Sheriff Tracy Carter sounding the bell for the needy during this Christmas season. As one of his community policing activities, he agreed to man the traditional bell and kettle for the local Salvation Army.

Over 200 Attend Open House

Annual Sheriff's Office Open House A Big Success

Only a small handful of the cornucopia of food and treats served up for members of the public can be seen in this picture of Sheriff Tracy Carter and David Spivey. Spivey was one of more than 200 people who turned out for the Lee County Sheriff Department's Christmas Open House. It took 10 tables to hold the goodies supplied by members of the department and their spouses.

Sheriff Tracy Carter said, "This is a blessed season in which we remember the greatest promise God ever made to man. It is our job to serve the public every day, and there was a special spirit of joy in our people coming together to serve our guests today."

Sheriff Recognizes County Jailers

"Hidden Force of Law Enforcement"
Given Awards.

Sgt. Wade Barker was one of the 25 staff members of the Lee County Jail to get certificates of appreciation from Sheriff Tracy Carter for their work in the county detention facility . The awards were a surprise presentation at an 8 am staff meeting. Noting that the jailers work behind thick walls, Sheriff Carter referred to them as the "hidden force of law enforcement" and a vital part of the Lee County Sheriff Office's team.

Sheriff Visits Bob The Bounty Hunter

Lee County Joins in Media Effort to Capture Fugitives

G105 has a morning segment called "Bob the Bounty Hunter" on Thursday's at 8:00. Local sheriffs come on the show and give names and information about suspects.

Today the sheriff was Lee County's own Tracy Carter. Listeners in communities have stepped up to call in tips about fugitives after hearing their descriptions on the show. Information about the fugitives is also posted on the show's website. This segment has been credited with helping law enforcement officials get information necessary for the capture of 64 local fugitives.

Show host Bob Dumas welcomed Sheriff Carter and noted that Lee County listeners had frequently requested to have their county included--a request now honored by the new sheriff in town.

"I plan to put this valuable law enforcement asset to work for Lee County on a continuous basis," Sheriff Carter said. Sheriffs from Wake, Johnston, Chatham, Durham, and Franklin counties are also currently participating in the program.

Second Crime Dog On The Scene

Buvi Has Crime-Fighting Partner On Sheriff's site.

McGruff the Crime Dog and pal, Scruff, bring ideas about kids staying safe through safety puzzles, games, and coloring pages that can be found at his web site . A link to McGruff's site is one of the resouces on the "Protecting Against Cime" page of the main Sheriff's website. Working for the National Crime Prevention Council, McGruff talks with kids about drugs, bullying, safety and the importance of staying in school.

Sheriff's Narcotics Unit Gets New Member

Buvi Now A County-Wide Resource

When Tracy Carter was Chief of the Lee County Schools Special Police, his agency became the only law enforcement agency in the county to have a K-9 officer with a highly trained drug dog. Now Buvi, a Belgian Malinois, is coming to work for now Sheriff Carter as part ot the Sheriff's Narcotics Unit. Buvi is teamed with David Prevatte, a school resouce officer, who is joining the county drug unit.

Under an agreement with the Lee County Board of Education, the Sheriff's Office will purchase Buvi for $1, and the Sheriff's Office will assist the schools with drug searches as needed.

"I am pleased to have Buvi back," said Sheriff Carter. "Now we can put him to work county-wide." The Sheriff added that Buvi would also be available to assist, if requested, by the Sanford and Broadway Police Departments. Trained drug dogs such as Buvi are especially helpful with drug interdiction--a priority of the Sheriff's Office.

Stronger Courtroom Security Measures

Inmates Wear Leg Restraints To Court

There was stronger security in courtrooms as Lee County District District Court opened following the swearing in of Sheriff Tracy Carter on Monday. Sheriff Carter ordered that inmates be placed in leg restraints when appearing before judges in pretrial proceedings. This change in policy practically eliminates the risk that inmates may flee the courtroom and significantly increases the ability of bailiffs to control them, according to Chief Bailiff James Davis. The practice is similar to that used in Superior Court and has been expanded to district court. Adding the restraints, which take less than two minutes to apply, impedes the mobility of inmates and makes them easier to be pushed to the floor in the event of threatening behavior. Most judges do not allow the use of leg restraints during jury trials as it is thought to have the potential to prejudice the jury. In most instances, cases in district court are disposed of through guilty pleas resulting from plea bargain arrangements so inmates will most always be restrained under the new procedures.