Questions Surround Charge of Vance Sheriff's Daughter

County Manager Jerry Ayscue says there doesn't appear to be evidence the case was handled inappropriately.

Posted 10:09 p.m. Apr 3, 2008 — Updated 11:55 a.m. Apr 4, 2008

HENDERSON, N.C. — Vance County's manager says he believes a reckless-driving case involving the sheriff's daughter was handled correctly, even though conversations between deputies and radio dispatchers and between a dispatcher and the sheriff suggest suspicions that she was intoxicated.

Motorists driving along U.S. Highway 1, south of Henderson, on March 23 reported to 911 that a motorist was driving the wrong way on the highway, swerving. Multiple callers described the driver as acting drunk.

When a sheriff's deputy pulled over the driver, he realized it was Vance County Sheriff Peter White's daughter, Shahita White, 34.

There is no indication a sobriety test was administered nor that there was probable cause for one. A dispatcher called the sheriff to let him know. Shahita White was charged with reckless driving.

"You go ahead and call him at the house and tell him she's blistered," the deputy told the dispatcher.

"Yeah, and see what he wants me to do," the officer continued.

About calling Sheriff White, the dispatcher responded, "I'll go ahead and take care of it," but never said what, if anything, the deputy should do.

When he reached White, the dispatcher told him that the deputy had his daughter stopped and "she's 55" – apparently a reference to the common police 10-code for an intoxicated driver, 10-55.

Vance County Manager Jerry Ayscue said conversations with the sheriff indicated to him that the case was handled appropriately.

"There doesn't appear to be any evidence, at this point, that would indicate otherwise," Ayscue said.

Unless new evidence is brought forward, Ayscue says he expects the county will not need to investigate how the case was handled any further.

Sheriff White said Thursday he was "too busy to talk" about the arrest. WRAL was unable to contact Shahita White for comment.

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