Newton Grove Police Chief Greg Warren on was arrested Wednesday on charges that include secret peeping and indecent liberties with a minor.
The chief faces seven felony charges. The town has suspended Warren without pay.
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Following an investigation with the Sampson County Sheriff's Office, agents with the State Bureau of Investigation arrested Greg Warren on Wednesday and charged him with the following:
- 1 felony count of indecent liberties with a minor.
- 2 felony counts of secret peeping.
- 4 felony counts of possessing images derived from secret peeping.
Warren was sworn in as police chief in 2019. According to court documents, the charges are related to an incident that happened in 2023.
"I would have never expected it, but you never know," said April Newkirk, who lives in the area. "The point I'm at with the Newton Grove Police Department, I'd rather not be around them."
Warren is accused of going into the victim's bedroom and taking photos of her while she was sleeping, according to court documents.
Warren's first court appearance came on Thursday. During the proceedings, a prosecutor said that inappropriate pictures were found on an iPad that was linked to Warren's phone. It was said that the defendant admitted taking the pictures to a family member and to law enforcement.
The SBI said Warren was being held at the Sampson County Detention Center under no bond. A bond hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15.
Newton Grove leadership said that police operations will continue without interruption.
The Sampson County District Attorney said the case will be handled by a conference of district attorneys to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
In 2021, Warren was captured on video shooting a man after a confrontation at a convenience store.