Craven County Sheriff's Office

06/10/2026

Robert Westrup Sentenced to Prison

The Judge sentenced Robert Westrup to 94 YEARS minimum and 119 YEARS max today.

Westrup was found guilty yesterday on all nine state charges tied to the 2021 shooting that left Craven County Deputy Zachary Bellingham paralyzed. The verdict was delivered at the Craven County Courthouse, where jurors convicted Westrup of four counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Sheriff Chip Hughes said, “It’s closure for these deputies.” Hughes said. “Of course, there’ll never be any closure for Deputy Bellingham. Every day he has to deal with what has happened because of the senseless crime that Robert Westrup inflicted on him.”

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

Robert Westrup has been found guilty on all nine state charges connected to the 2021 shooting of Craven County Deputy Zachary Bellingham, who was left paralyzed. Sheriff Chip Hughes said the verdict brings the sheriff’s office “a little closer to closure.”

06/09/2026

Neuse River Drug Task Force Press Conference 6/9/26

06/07/2026

UPDATE 6/7/26 5:40 PM - K-9 Elliot Located

K-9 Elliot was located near the Sheriffs Office and is ok.

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Missing K-9 Officer

On June 7, 2026, K-9 Officer Elliot went missing following a training exercise at the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, located at 1100 Clarks Road New Bern, N.C.

K-9 Elliot was last seen entering the woods near the Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone who sees K-9 Elliot is asked to contact Craven County Communications at 252-633-2357.

06/05/2026

Drug Task Force Arrest Cove City Man for Trafficking
Methamphetamine

On June 2, 2026, Craven County Deputies arrested Franklin Howard Watson, 61, of NC Highway 55 West Cove City, N.C. as the result of an on-going investigation by the Neuse River Narcotics Task Force into the distribution of illegal narcotics.

During the investigation, over 28 grams of methamphetamine and 45 guns were seized including several that were modified illegally.

Watson is charged with two felony counts of trafficking methamphetamine and possession of a weapon of mass destruction.

Watson is being held in the Craven County Confinement Facility.

The Drug Taskforce includes the Craven County Sheriff's Office, Carteret County Sheriff's Office, Pamlico County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations & New Bern Police Department.

The investigation is on-going and more charges are expected.

06/03/2026

Identification Sought for Fraud Suspect

The Craven County Sheriff's Office needs the public’s assistance in identifying a female subject wanted for identity theft.

The suspect used the information of the victim to make purchases in Craven County.

If you have any information on this incident, please contact the Craven County Sheriff's Office at (252) 636-6620 or Craven County Communications at (252) 633-2357. You can also submit tips anonymously through the Craven County Crime Stoppers app at p3tips.com/986

06/02/2026

Three Arrested Following Larceny Investigation

On May 30, 2026, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office responded to 935 U.S. 70 Highway New Bern, N.C. in reference to a larceny of a cellphone and money.

An investigation conducted by the Criminal Patrol Bureau found that the victim was placing groceries in her vehicle when a vehicle stopped near her shopping cart and grabbed her cellphone that had a wallet attached to it.

The victim was able to track her cellphone and found it discarded near the entrance of the parking lot near Williams Road. The victim reported $400.00 in cash was missing from her wallet.

Based on surveillance footage and interviews, Deputies were able to identify Victoria McWhorter, 33, of Neuse Cliffs Road New Bern, N.C., Jordan Wiley, 26, of Cowan Drive New Bern, N.C., & Emily Sawyer, 20, of Simmons Loop Road New Bern, N.C. as the perpetrators.

McWhorter, Wiley, & Sawyer were arrested for felony larceny and are being held in the Craven County Confinement Facility.

06/01/2026

Drug Task Force Charges Trent Woods Man with Trafficking over 25 Grams of Fentanyl

On May 28, 2026, Craven County Deputies arrested Jeffrey Allen Pettigrew Jr., 38, of Foxhorn Road Trent Woods, N.C. as the result of an on-going investigation by the Neuse River Narcotics Task Force into the distribution of illegal narcotics.

During the investigation, over 25 grams of fentanyl and U.S. currency was seized.

Pettigrew is charged with two felony counts trafficking in fentanyl, two felony counts possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver fentanyl, felony maintaining a dwelling for the sale of controlled substance, & possession of drug paraphernalia.

Pettigrew was also served an outstanding warrant out of Pamlico County for felony possession fentanyl.
Pettigrew is being held in the Craven County Confinement Facility under no bond.

Sheriff Hughes stated "this investigation is part of an ongoing effort by the task force to target drug trafficking across Craven, Carteret, & Pamlico Counties"

The Drug Tasktorce includes the Craven County Sheriff's Office, Carteret County Sheriff's Office, Pamlico County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations & New Bern Police Department.

The investigation is on-going.

05/29/2026

*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

On May 28th, 2026, at approximately 5:00 pm, officers with the Neuse River Narcotics Task Force conducted a traffic stop on Elizabeth Avenue near White Ash Lane in New Bern. During the stop officers located fi****ms and illegal narcotics.

The investigation led officers to conduct a search warrant at a residence in Beech Grove Mobile Home Park in New Bern. Officers located multiple fi****ms and a trafficking amount of illegal narcotics in the home.

Dylan Duckett, 27 years-old was arrested and charged with:
• Trafficking in o***m (2 counts)
• Possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver Schedule III controlled substance
• Maintain vehicle / dwelling for sale of controlled substance

The Neuse River Narcotics Task Force, made up of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, New Bern, Police Department, the Craven County Sheriff's Office, the Carteret County Sheriff's Office, and the Pamlico County Sheriff's Office. The arrest is part of this ongoing investigation.

The individual taken into custody is currently being held in the Craven County jail under no bond. No further details are being released at this time due to the active investigation.

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