Harnett County Sheriff's Office Coverage

Harnett County Sheriff's Office to conduct internal investigation after deadly crash with deputy

A deputy identified as Kevin LeTarte was is in critical condition, according to the State Highway Patrol.

Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Two people killed, Harnett County deputy hurt in crash on Highway 210

Two people died Friday afternoon in a crash that involved a Harnett County sheriff's deputy at Highway 210 and Ray Road in Spring Lake.

Sky 5: Two people killed, Harnett deputy injured in crash

Two people died Friday afternoon in a crash that involved a Harnett County sheriff's deputy at Highway 210 and Ray Road in Spring Lake.

Community holds vigil in honor of couple killed in deadly crash with Harnett deputy

Family, friends and community members are mourning a couple that was killed in a car crash involving a sheriff's deputy.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Harnett County authorities searching for man who shot brother early Tuesday

Seven people were present at the time of the shooting on Old Hundred Loop in Lillington, four of whom were children.

Leslie Moreno, WRAL reporter

Harnett County man identified after getting shot, killed by deputies trying to serve involuntary commitment papers

The sheriff's office identified the man shot and killed on Monday as Lee Irvin Dawson Jr. He was 68.

WRAL Staff

Harnett County deputies involved in deadly shooting while serving serving involuntary commitment papers

One person, not a law enforcement officer, is dead after the shooting, and the State Bureau of Investigation has been called to investigate.

One person dead after Harnett County deputies were serving involuntary commitment papers

Several deputies with the Harnett County Sheriff's Office were involved in a shooting Monday morning on Capitol Hill Road near River Road.

Chelsea Donovan, WRAL reporter and Brett Knese, WRAL multimedia journalist

Hoax school threats cost time, money but few face charges

Sheriff Wayne Coats says his deputies have spent hours investigating bomb and mass shooter threats since October, and all seven threats made against Harnett County Schools turned out to be hoaxes.

Harnett sheriff: Students collaborate on bomb threats to skip class, but agencies in other states are slow to press charges

The Harnett County Schools Board of Education is granting the sheriff's office nearly $20,000 for a new bomb-sniffing K-9 -- and officials say it's all because students are trying to skip out on school.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

Harnett sheriff pleads for information on slew of recent shootings

Harnet County Sheriff Wayne Coats pleads for information on five recent shootings that took place in the Erwin area. The most recent one involves the shooting of an edlery woman at a stop sign.

Harnett Co. Sheriff discusses shooting of 72-year-old bystander

The Harnett County Sheriff's Office discusses the shooting of a 72-year-old woman in Erwin. Officials believe she was not the intended target of the gunfire.

Two recount violence at hands of Harnett deputies

While the suit was led by the family of John David Livingston, who was shot and killed by Deputy Nicholas Kehagias in November 2015, fellow plaintiffs Michael Cardwell and Tyrone Bethune, who now goes by King Knowledge-El, had similar stories of violent encounters with sheriff's deputies.

'That's a gang:' Men recount violent encounters with Harnett deputies that led to lawsuit, $6 million settlement

A day after the insurer for the Harnett County Sheriff's Office settled a lawsuit that alleged a pattern of excessive force by a group of deputies, two men who participated in the suit told their story to WRAL News.

Cullen Browder, WRAL reporter

Only on WRAL: Son of man killed by deputy opens up to WRAL following six-figure settlement

WRAL's Matt Talhelm spoke exclusively with the son of the victim, who says no amount of money can replace the loss of his father.

$6 million settlement in excessive force case against Harnett sheriff's office

The insurer for the Harnett County Sheriff's Office agreed Wednesday to a $6 million settlement with six families who had charged the office with a pattern of excessive use of force, according to Raleigh-based attorney Robert Zaytoun, who represents the plaintiffs.

Rather see a guilty verdict: Son of man killed by Harnett deputy says settlement bittersweet

The Harnett County Sheriff's Office agreed Wednesday to a $6 million settlement with six families who had charged the office with a pattern of excessive use of force, according to Raleigh-based attorney Raleigh-based attorney Robert Zaytoun, who represents the plaintiffs.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

Attorney: Harnett County Sheriff's Office insurer will pay $6 million to 6 families to settle excessive force suit

The Harnett County Sheriff's Office agreed Wednesday to a $6 million settlement with six families who had charged the office with a pattern of excessive use of force, according to Raleigh-based attorney Raleigh-based attorney Robert Zaytoun, who represents the plaintiffs.

Cullen Browder, Matt Talhelm and Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporters

What do bullets have in common with toilet paper? Both are in short supply during the pandemic

Add bullets to the list of toilet paper, Lysol wipes and other items in short supply because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

Man shot by Harnett deputy is charged, jailed; mother wonders if shooting was necessary

Bernard Junior Carnegie faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, assault by pointing a gun, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of marijuana. Carnegie's mother, Beverly Hunter, said her son surrendered to authorities after Lee County deputies came to her home outside Sanford to look for him.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

SBI releases name of deputy involved in Harnett County shooting

SBI continues to investigate the officer-involved shooting, releasing more details as they do. The audio of the 911 call was released; now, they have released the name of the deputy.

Family of the man shot by a Harnett County deputy overnight speaks out

A Harnett County deputy shot a man overnight Saturday while responding to a 911 call. On Sunday morning, his family shared their account of events, while SBI investigates the incident.

Officer-involved shooting in Harnett County: What we know so far

A Harnett County deputy shot a man overnight Saturday while responding to a 911 call.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter, Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter & Heather Leah, multiplatform producer

Harnett County deputies wearing pink badges for breast cancer awareness

Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats ordered special pink-lettered badges for his deputies to wear throughout the month of October.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

Harnett County deputies wearing pink badges for breast cancer awareness

Harnett County deputies are wearing pink badges to help raise awareness of breast cancer for October.