CarolinaEast Health System honored New Bern heroes – especially fallen New Bern Police Officers by dedicating its ambulance bay to first responders and naming its new trauma center the Alexander E. Thalmann Trauma Center.
Officer Thalmann was slain by a bullet while in the line of duty in 2014. Struck down while pursuing a suspect near Craven Terrace on March 28th, he was treated at CarolinaEast and quickly shipped to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville where he succumbed to his wounds on March 31st. He is buried near his home in Washington, NC.
A dedication ceremony was held Tuesday morning in front of the ambulance bay, attended by numerous members of the first responders community from firemen and ambulance personnel to police representing several municipalities and the Craven County Sheriff’s Office.
New Bern Police identified the deceased as Donnie Smith, 55, of New Bern.
The other victim s name has not been released, He is listed in stable condition at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, according to police. He is identified as a New Bern resident.
The shooting took place at 10:19 p.m., after which multiple 911 callers reported shots being fired in the 1100 block. Officer found the two shooting victims.
The investigation is underway and anyone with information is asked to call the New Bern Police Department TIPS line at (252)-636-5034 or Craven County Crime Stopper line at (252)633-5141. If you “See Something, Say Something”. For additional information, please contact Captain David Daniels with the New Bern Police Department at (252) 672-4285.
Sun Journal staff
A loaded handgun was found under the pillow of a one-year-old child while Craven County Sherriff s deputies were executing a search warrant.
On Thursday, May 6 members of the sheriff s office, the New Bern Police Department and the North Carolina Probation and Parole division executed a search warrant at 902 Simmons Street in New Bern.
The search resulted in the seizure of 80 grams of methamphetamine and 22 grams of fentanyl/opioid. Also recovered were seven firearms and $9,189.00 in US currency, according to a news release.
Lear Say, 902 Simmons St., New Bern was charged with conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine; conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl/opioid; illegal storage of a firearm to endanger a minor. Say is being held in the Craven County Detention Center under an $800,000.00 secured bond.
New Bern police are hoping someone out there has the information that can lead to solving the murder of a Black man and white woman that took place 22 years ago.
While the double homicide remains unsolved, it did result in a court challenge or racism by the Black man’s mother who was rejected in an attempt to collect money from the victim’s compensation commission to help cover the cost of burying her son though the woman’s estranged husband did receive compensation for burial expenses.
On March 10, 1999, at 12:32 p.m. police arrived at the couple’s home on New Bern Avenue to find Vincent Eric Holt, 34, a Black man, and Debra Swindell, 39, a white woman, shot to death in a bedroom in Holt’s home.
New Bern police investigating Thursday morning shooting
The New Bern Police Department is investigating a Thursday morning shooting that took place on Trent Avenue.
According to a release from the department, at 8:36 a.m., officers responded to the 900 block of Trent Avenue after a report of shots being fired. Shortly thereafter, a male victim arrived at CarolinaEast Medical Center suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and was airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC. The investigation is on-going, and the shooting appears to be an isolated incident.
The New Bern Police Department is committed to partnering with the community. Citizens are encouraged to become a “Partner in Policing” by reporting suspected illegal activity to the New Bern Police Department TIPS line at (252) 636-5034 or Craven County Crime Stopper line at (252) 633-5141. If you “See Something, Say Something”. For additional information, please contact Lt. Jason Williams with the New Bern