Sheriff Scott Hammonds reminds everyone to celebrate the New Year safely. Fireworks can be loud and disruptive, and we ask residents to use the non-emergency line to report noise complaints so 911 remains available for true emergencies. Sheriff Hammonds also strongly warns against celebratory gunfire. Firing a weapon into the air is extremely dangerous. Bullets fired upward must come back down and can seriously injure or kill someone, even far from where they were fired. We w

Sheriff Scott Hammonds would like to sincerely thank the families, churches, and friends of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office for the generous food and treats provided to our employees who worked throughout the Christmas season.  Your kindness, support, and thoughtfulness mean more than words can express, and they truly lifted the spirits of our staff during the holidays. We are grateful for a community that stands behind us.

On December 12, 2025, Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested 27-year-old Nikkopenia Terra Echevarria of Washington, NC on multiple felony drug charges. This arrest stemmed from Deputies executing a search warrant on Echevarria’s residence after several controlled purchases of fentanyl were conducted. Nikkopenia Terra Echevarria was arrested and held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under no bond for the following charges: (2) counts of T

Craven County Sheriff's Office reports that Craven County murder suspect Dominic Connelly has been captured alive. The sheriff told WITN that Connelly was found in an abandoned building on Muddy Lane. That’s north of Vanceboro off Business U.S. 17. Sheriff Hughes says more information will be released during a 2:00 p.m. news conference. The capture came after SBI cadaver dogs were brought in this morning to help find Connelly.

On Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, 33-year-old Ryan Austin Stalls pled guilty in Beaufort County Superior Court to the following charges: (2) counts of 1st Degree Attempted Murder (Felony) The sentence for this plea is 273 – 340 months. (1) count of 1st Degree Kidnapping (Felony) (1) count of Attempted 1st Degree Forcible Sex Offense (Felony) The sentence for this plea is 127 – 213 months. These sentences will be served consecutively in the North Carolina Department of Correc

Weather Update from Beaufort County Emergency Services: While much of Beaufort Co. could see a mix of rain and snow later today, impactful accumulations will remain to our north and west. However, there is a potential for patches of black ice, especially on our elevated roadways, for late tonight / early tomorrow morning, as any remaining standing water on these surfaces will likely freeze overnight. Forecast details can be found below. Rain & Snow • Our rain chances will i

Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office has distributed over 1,600 bags of food throughout Beaufort County to food banks, blessing boxes, and charitable organizations that ensure those in need have access to food. This would not be possible without the support of Carlie C's of Washington who has led the effort in helping those in need during the holidays. Sheriff Scott Hammonds would like to thank Store Manager Bill Marlow and his sta

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office was made aware on an attempted scam involving people representing themselves as members of the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. The person begins the conversation stating it as an "Urgent Legal Matter." Then, they present reasons for their call such as unpaid fines, warrant for arrest, fines for missed jury duty, etc. All of these are designed to get the person being called to pay money through various non-traceable means, such as pre-p

Today I officially filed for re-election, seeking to continue my service to the citizens of Beaufort County. Serving as Sheriff of Beaufort County has been an honor and a responsibility I take very seriously. We have strengthened our capabilities, built meaningful partnerships, and worked every day to enhance public safety. I look forward to building on the progress we've made and working to build a safer, more connected community. Key Accomplishments Strengthening School S

UPDATE (Nov 25, 2025 @ 08:48): William "Billy" Campbell has been located. A Silver Alert has been issued for an elderly Beaufort County man. The N.C. Center for Missing Persons is asking for the public's help in finding 79-year-old William "Billy" Campbell. Campbell is believed to be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's. Campbell is described as a white man with short, white hair and blue eyes. He is 5 feet 7 inches tall and 135 pounds. Campbell was last seen wearing a gr

United Way Inner Banks and Rotary Clubs of Washington have partnered to provide a full Thanksgiving meal to those in need. These Thanksgiving meal boxes are being given away at P.S. Jones Middle School today while supplies last. You will need to bring your SNAP card and photo ID to receive your free box.

Residents of the City of Washington are reminded of the scheduled power outage taking place on Sunday, November 16, 2025, from approximately 12 am until 6 am. The outage is necessary to complete upgrades to the infrastructure. City residents can prepare for the outage by ensuring cellphones are charged and that any medical devices that require power have a backup power source. Those with home alarm systems should ensure they are properly set with the power failure in mind.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office has partnered with Toys for Tots to provide toys to those who are less fortunate this Christmas! You can drop off your new, unwrapped toy at our front office, located at 210 N Market Street in Washington. No toy weapons, including Nerf guns and water guns. Help spread the holiday cheer by giving to this worthy cause!

Craven County fugitive Dominic Connelly was last confirmed to be hiding out in a heavily wooded area in Vanceboro. Based upon evidence and no confirmation, Connelly is still in Craven County. The Craven County Sheriff's Office has shifted their investigation from a "command-post" type manhunt to an investigative and intelligence driven fugitive case. Craven County has offered a combined reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Connelly. Connelly was