Tips to Crime Stoppers nets major leads in cases

Coming up on 10 years of dime dropping, Onslow County Crime Stoppers is more active than ever, board members said.

The cash-for-information program provided invaluable help in last week’s arrest of two suspects in a November homicide, Jacksonville police said. That topped off the busiest month in the program’s history, said Crime Stoppers Chairman Joe Yannessa.

Rewards were paid out in November on eight cases ranging from theft in the school system to animal abuse to the August shooting death of a Hubert woman. In the last three months, tipsters in 17 cases have been paid.

Yannessa said the increased number of paid rewards demonstrates the effectiveness of the program in supporting police in the battle against crime in the Jacksonville area.

“Individuals who personally witness crimes or have potentially relevant information on locating wanted persons, continue to help law enforcement investigations with their anonymous phone calls to our hotline,” he said.

That help paid off big time in the investigation into who gunned down a Brynn Marr neighborhood man last month. Tips to Crime Stoppers, “the ceaseless work of officers in the Investigative Division,” and the help of the Naval Criminal Investigative Services led to the arrest of two suspects in the Nov. 16 shooting death of Kevin Foley, JPD Chief Mike Yaniero said.

“Those calls from our citizens are what make us successful,” JPD Deputy Police Chief Tim Malfitano said during Friday’s press conference to announce the arrests of William Miguel Castro, 21, and Timothy Delphon Lacey, 28, on murder charges.

Crime Stoppers also played a pivotal role in helping to solve the homicide of Omar Becerra who was shot dead during an argument in front of his Davis Street home in April. Five people were eventually charged in connection to his death.

The program provided credible information in the March 2008 shooting death of an out-of-town construction worker during a drug deal gone bad and the brutal June 2008 beating of a homeless man in the Piney Green area. Earlier this year, a Jacksonville man was convicted in the construction worker’s death and three Midway Park men pleaded guilty to slaying the homeless man.

Callers only receive an award if the information provided leads to an arrest. The program’s board of directors — made up of all segments of the community — reviews cases and votes on reward amounts on a monthly basis.

The anonymous hotline gives a code to callers who are told to call back at regular intervals to find out whether an arrest has been made in the case in which they provided information. Tipsters are told when the award has been determined and where their cash reward can be picked up.

Since its inception in April 2000, the program has expanded to include Onslow County Schools, area Marine bases and most recently Coastal Carolina Community College.

Tax-deductible donations to the program can be sent to Onslow County Crime Stoppers at P.O. Drawer 436, Jacksonville, NC, 28541-0436.

The 24-hour tip line can be reached at 910-938-3273.

Contact Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456 or lkay@freedomenc.com. Read his blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.