UPDATE: RPD Makes Arrest in Overnight Homicide

Brian Matthew Onley has been released from WakeMed and transported to the Wake County Jail. He is charged with 11 counts of armed robbery and with conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Separate investigations continue concerning the incident that led to police being called and the gambling that was taking place at the time of incident.

Gregg Alexander Maluchnik, 34, who resides in the residence where the incident occurred, has been charged with one count of gambling.

It is likely that the investigations into the incident and the gambling will take a number of days to complete. A decision concerning additional charges will be made after the investigations are completed and detectives consult with the Wake County District Attorney’s Office.

Fox Attacks Reported in Northwest Raleigh

In the past two days, Raleigh Police Department animal control officers have responded to two addresses in the northwest district where a 90-year-old woman and her dog and a 48-year-old woman have been bitten by a fox. In one of the incidents, the fox was detained and tested positive for rabies.

As a reminder, residents should avoid interactions with wildlife and are advised to keep pets away from undomesticated animals.Be sure pets have current rabies vaccinations.

• Do not leave trash or food outside, unless it is in a trash can with a tight-fitting lid.
• If a pet is fed outside, do not leave food out overnight.
• Do not leave pets outdoors unattended.
• If your pet comes in contact with wildlife, contact your veterinarian immediately.
• Animal bites and animals that are behaving unusually should be reported immediately.

Residents of Raleigh may contact Animal Control at (919) 831-6311 to report animal complaints.

UPDATE: RPD Searches for Bank Robbery Suspect

Raleigh Police Department detectives have charged Michael Orlando Downey (DOB 12/2/67) of Raleigh with robbery in connection with Monday’s incident. Downey has been transported to the Wake County Jail. Information received as a result of news coverage of the case was instrumental in identifying Downey as the suspect.

RPD Makes Arrest in Overnight Homicide

Shortly after 11 p.m. last night, Raleigh Police Department officers responded to a robbery call at 4809 Sweetbriar Drive.

Upon arrival, the officers discovered one subject deceased at the scene. That subject was later identified as Brandon Dwain Shelton, 28. A second subject, who had a gunshot wound in his right arm, was located nearby a short time later. The wounded subject was later identified as Brian Matthew Onley, 23. He was transported to WakeMed for treatment.

Subsequent investigation of the case indicates that Shelton and Onley entered the residence armed and wearing masks and attempted to rob individuals who were engaged in a poker game at the address. A struggle ensued, and the two suspects were shot.

Onley will be formally charged in connection with the incident when he is released from the hospital. No other individuals have been charged at this time, pending further investigation.

RPD Searches for Bank Robbery Suspect

The Raleigh Police Department is seeking assistance from the public as it works to identify and arrest the suspect seen in the attached surveillance photos.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. Monday, the suspect entered the Bank of America at 5005 Capital Boulevard, passed a note to a teller and implied he had a weapon.

After the teller complied with the note’s demands, the suspect fled the bank on foot and was last seen running eastbound across Capital Boulevard in the Mini City area.

The suspect is described as an older black male who stands about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He had salt and pepper hair and, in addition to the shirt seen in the photos, was wearing dark colored pants.

Anyone who might be able to identify the suspect or who believes they may have seen him is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

UPDATE: RPD Detectives Seek Whereabouts of Missing Person

Grant Ruffin Hayes, 32, and Amanda Perry Hayes, 39, were taken into custody at 1 a.m. today and charged with murder in connection with the death of Laura Jean Ackerson. The arrests were made without further incident at 1505 Holman Street in Kinston.

Detectives Seek Suspect in Bank Robbery

Today, just before 1:30 p.m., a suspect approached a teller at the Banco de la Gente located at 4011 Capital Boulevard, displayed a weapon and demanded money. He then fled the scene in a vehicle.

Witnesses describe the suspect as a Hispanic male who is said to stand 5 feet 9 inches tall and weigh about 170 pounds. In addition to the clothing that can be seen in the photos, the suspect wore an earring.

Anyone who might know the suspect’s identify is asked to call the RPD’s Detective Division at (919) 996-3555 or Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

RPD Detains Suspect in Attempted Murder

Last night, shortly before 11:30 p.m., Raleigh Police Department officers responded to a nature unknown call in the 4400 block of Liverpool Lane. Upon arrival, a victim, Matthew Wesley Moore, 24, was located with serious injuries and transported to WakeMed.

A suspect was detained at the scene and was transported to be interviewed by detectives. After further investigation, the suspect, Ted Dewitt Hand, Jr. (DOB 9/23/83) was charged with attempted murder. He has been transported to the Wake County Jail.

The crime was not a random act.

RPD Arrest Homicide Suspect

Shortly before 7 p.m. last night, Raleigh Police Department officers responded to a check in with EMS call in the 8200 block of Merriweather Circle. Upon arrival, a deceased victim was located, Kelvin Troydon Williams, Jr., 23.

A suspect was detained close by and was transported to be interviewed by detectives. After further investigation, the suspect, David John Lewis, III (DOB 12/1/87) was charged with murder in connection with William’s death. He has been transported to the Wake County Jail.

The victim and the suspect were known to one another, and the crime was not a random act.

New Photos of Missing Person Released

These two photos of Laura Jean Ackerson were recorded by a surveillance camera on the morning of July 13. At that time, she was wearing a brown sleeveless blouse and tan Capri pants. She had a black leather bag with white lettering and was carrying a brown Liz Claiborne purse.

Anyone who knows the present whereabouts of Laura Jean Ackerson or who believes they may have seen her recently is asked to contact Raleigh CrimeStoppers tip line at (919) 834-HELP.

RPD Detectives Seek Whereabouts of Missing Person

Ackerson

At the request of the Kinston Police Department, the Raleigh Police Department has assumed the leading role in the investigation into the disappearance of Laura Jean Ackerson, 27, who was reported as missing in Kinston earlier this week.

Ackerson’s 2006 white Ford Focus was located early this morning parked near 5400 Summit Manor Lane in Raleigh.

Ackerson is described as a white female who stands approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds. She has brown hair and hazel eyes.

At this point, the investigation of the missing person case has not produced evidence that foul play was involved in Ackerson’s disappearance.

Anyone who knows the present whereabouts of Laura Jean Ackerson or believes they may have seen her within the past week is asked to contact Raleigh CrimeStoppers tip line at (919) 834-HELP.

RPD Officer Named American Legion's Officer of the Year

On Friday, June 11, the American Legion Department of North Carolina presented Senior Officer S.P. Womack with its 2010 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award at a ceremony held at the North Raleigh Hilton during the organization’s annual statewide convention.

Each year, the American Legion Department of North Carolina selects a Law Enforcement Officer of the Year recipient from nominations received from posts throughout the state. Womack was nominated for the award by Raleigh’s American Legion Swift Creek Post 530 because of his achievements in the arena of professional development and community involvement, which include a number of initiatives he created within the Northwest District during his current assignment as the district’s crime prevention officer.

In addition to creating a network of retail loss prevention professionals in the district and developing a training program designed to improve security at houses of worship, Womack also helped stop a series of thefts from a local ice manufacturer involving a hazardous chemical used to make methamphetamine.

As the North Carolina honoree for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Womack was also entered into the running for the national Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. After being selected as one of five regional finalists for the award, Womack recently received notification that he was selected as the national award winner. He will travel to the American Legion’s national convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the end of August for the award presentation.

Womack, has been with the RPD in September 2004. He served as a patrol officer in the Northwest District for several years before being selected in March 2009 to serve as the district’s crime prevention officer. 

Two are Arrested in Shooting Incident

On Friday, July 15, at approximately 5 p.m., Raleigh Police Department officers responded to shooting call at 2010 Quail Forest Dr. A shooting was reported to have occurred outdoors at that location; however, responding officers did not locate a victim at the scene.

Within minutes, officers were notified of a second call concerning a gunshot victim who had apparently driven himself to the intersection of E. Millbrook Road and Atlantic Avenue and entered the parking lot of a convenience store there. The victim, who was subsequently identified as Kevin Matthew Royster, 48, was transported to WakeMed for treatment.

Officers and detectives conducting follow-up work on the calls determined Royster was the victim who had been assaulted on Quail Forest Drive.


The following day, Raleigh Police Department arrested two suspects in connection with the incident. The suspects are: William Jocoby Singletary, 21; and Fritz St Louis, 22. Both Singletary and St Louis were transported to the Wake County Jail.

As a result of their involvement in Friday’s incident the suspects have been charged with: robbery with a dangerous weapon; conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon; and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. In addition, St Louis has been charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana and with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Follow-up investigative work is continuing.

RPD Detectives Seek Suspect's Identity in Strong Arm Robbery

The Raleigh Police Department is seeking tips from the public as it works to identify and arrest the suspect seen in the attached surveillance photos.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 1, the suspect committed a strong-arm robbery outside the SunTrust bank at 3620 Six Forks Road and assaulted a 68-year-old male victim during the crime. The victim was approaching the bank to make a deposit for his employer when the robbery occurred.

After committing the crime, the suspect fled on foot to a compact or mid-size SUV that was parked nearby. The SUV was reported to be either silver or champagne in color. Additional suspects are believed to have been in the vehicle, which was last seen traveling north on Six Forks Road.

The suspect is described as a black male with light to medium skin tone. He was said to stand about 6 feet 1 inch tall and was thought to weigh about 250 pounds. The suspect was wearing a blue baseball cap, blue t-shirt, dark colored jean shorts, and black and white sneakers. He had a distinctively long goatee, which can be seen in the photo that shows him in profile.

Anyone with information that might assist detectives working on the case is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

RPD Launches New Online Crime Reporting

On Tuesday, July 12, 2011, the Raleigh Police Department will introduce its new crime reporting system that will allow people to file certain non-emergency police reports online.

The service enables members of the community to complete an online form to report six types of non-emergency crimes. Users navigate to the City of Raleigh home page at www.raleighnc.gov, select “Police Department” from the list of departments and then scroll down to click on the “Report a Crime” link. Users then answer a short series of questions to determine if the crime they wish to report can be accepted through the online reporting service.

Eligible online reports include: damages to property; damages to vehicles; harassing phone calls; lost property; stolen property; and thefts from vehicles. Online reporting users will be able to print a temporary copy of their report immediately after it is submitted. Online submissions are reviewed by the department before a permanent report number is issued.

The online reporting system provides a convenient way to report crimes that do not require the presence of an officer, and it increases police productivity by freeing officers to perform other law enforcement activities. In addition, users may find it is a more convenient way to file a police report needed for an insurance claim.