North Carolina
Nearly 200 cases dismissed after North Carolina trooper allegedly made ‘misleading’ statements
RALEIGH, N.C. (WBTV) – Nearly 200 cases have been dismissed after a state trooper in North Carolina made statements that appeared to have been “false and misleading,” officials said.
CBS affiliate WNCN said the trooper initially called into question was Garrett Lee Macario. The station reported that Lorrin Freeman, the Wake County District Attorney, began reviewing Macario’s credibility after he investigated a fatal crash in October.
“We received information the last week in December that there had been an accident, a one-car fatality on Capital Boulevard in October, in which the interaction of the trooper on scene had come into question,” Freeman said via WNCN.
Freeman said she then requested bodycam footage from the day of the crash. During a review, she said “there were statements that were made by that trooper that appear to be false and misleading.” From there, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) launched an investigation.
WNCN said the state chose not to pursue pending cases that involved Macario, which led to the dismissal of about 180 cases. Freeman said the majority of those cases were related to DWI charges.
Freeman said one reason the cases were dismissed was because DWI investigations are “pretty much one-witness cases.”
During the review of Macario’s conduct, WNCN reported that the credibility of his supervisor, Sgt. Matthew Morrison, was also questioned.
“Without getting into the details of this investigation, there was information in the body cam and dash cam video that I reviewed that also gave rise to concerns about his credibility,” Freeman said of Morrison.
About a dozen cases that involved Morrison — but are separate from Macario’s — were being reviewed.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed to WNCN that both Macario and Morrison were placed on administrative duty, effective Jan. 10. Macario has been with the agency since February 2019, and Morrison since July 2012.
WNCN reported that neither trooper had been charged as of Jan. 24. In addition to the SBI investigation, the station said an administrative investigation by Highway Patrol was also likely.
Also Read: Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer arrested on Christmas Eve jailed again, records show
Copyright 2025 WBTV. All rights reserved.
North Carolina
Damaged Flock camera in North Carolina town sparks online debate over surveillance tech
RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. (WLOS) — A damaged Flock Safety camera in Rutherfordton has reignited debate over the use of license plate reader technology, with thousands weighing in online after police shared a photo of the vandalized device.
The Rutherfordton Police Department posted an image of the damaged camera on social media, where the post quickly gained more than 20,000 comments. While some users condemned the vandalism, others praised the person responsible, with comments including “Not all heroes wear capes” and “Give them a medal.”
Local law enforcement officials said there is too much misinformation online about the cameras.
FLOCK CAMERA DAMAGED IN NORTH CAROLINA TOWN, PROMPTING POLICE STATEMENT
“We’re seeing a lot of misconceptions that these cameras collect more data than they actually do,” said Capt. Ryan Bailey with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. “The camera itself is only capturing the vehicle traveling down the road.”
Bailey said Flock cameras do not record video. Instead, they take still images of passing vehicles and capture license plate information. According to the sheriff’s office, those images are automatically deleted after 30 days.
The department also says safeguards are in place to prevent misuse of the system. Deputies are required to enter a case number before searching the database, allowing administrators to audit searches and ensure the technology is being used appropriately.
JULY 8, 2026 – A Flock camera in Rutherford County, North Carolina. (Photo: WLOS Staff)
Despite those protections, opinions among residents remain divided.
“I don’t like that idea at all because of the over-abundance of electronics and interference in our privacy,” Rutherfordton resident Rachel Alexander said.
Others believe the cameras are a valuable investigative tool.
“I have no really negative opinion with them. I think they’re really helpful, especially with criminals and children abductions,” said local homeowner Phyllis Irvine.
POLL: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FLOCK CAMERAS?
The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office says the cameras have also proven useful in locating vulnerable people, including those with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other cognitive disabilities who may have gone missing while driving.
Officials say the technology has become an important resource for investigations and emergency response across the county.
Flock cameras cost about $3,500 each. Law enforcement officials say anyone caught intentionally damaging one could face charges.
North Carolina
North Carolina Republican operative shaping the state’s early voting plans is reassigned
North Carolina state Auditor Dave Boliek has reassigned a staffer working on state election preparations following reporting illustrating how the longtime Republican operative was using his position to shape county’s early voting plans.
North Carolina
North Carolina man accused of shooting and killing another tourist inside of a Broward Airbnb, police say
A Fourth of July trip to South Florida ended in tragedy after a 21-year-old North Carolina man was shot and killed inside a Hollywood Airbnb, according to police.
Investigators say Jaydon Williams, 21, was shot multiple times early Saturday morning at a vacation rental in the 1900 block of Funston Street. Hollywood police have arrested 21-year-old Devian Blount, also of North Carolina, and charged him with first-degree murder.
Officers responded to the home around 1 a.m. Saturday, following reports of a shooting. They arrived to find Williams suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital, where he died.
According to the arrest report, Williams was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend at the time of the shooting. She told investigators she heard someone accuse Williams of stealing, followed by a verbal argument and several gunshots.
The incident has left neighbors shaken in the typically quiet Hollywood community. While some residents noted they were aware that the home operated as a short-term rental, others expressed concerns about the property’s transient nature.
“That’s a bad idea to me to have an Airbnb in this neighborhood where so many people and kids live,” said neighbor Dorell Green. “Different types of people come and go. You don’t know who is coming or leaving.”
Ivette Santana, another resident, said her primary concern is the violence. “I don’t care about the Airbnb,” Santana said. “My problem is the shooting over there.”
Blount is being held without bond at the Broward County Jail.
CBS News Miami has contacted Airbnb to determine if the property remains in operation. We are also working to contact the property’s owners.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoLoved ones search for missing 34-year-old Southern California woman
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoChickens, geese found at vacant home after nonprofit reports them stolen
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoWhat’s next for San Francisco Giants as MLB trade deadline approaches?
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoDallas millionaire files lawsuit against groundwater district
-
Miami, FL2 hours ago7 more women arrested at southwest Miami-Dade massage parlors, accused of prostitution in undercover sting
-
Boston, MA2 hours ago‘They’re my buddies’: 96-year-old Back Bay woman befriends French soccer team
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver officers cited for separate incidents, 1 fired
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoStudy finds dangerous chemicals in the breast milk of Seattle moms
