Weldon police say security cameras that could have solved man's murder have been offline for years

The cameras have been offline since 2018 due to budget cuts, and the Weldon Police Chief Christopher Davis is pushing to get the network powered on again for public safety.

“We could have potentially saw them doing it at that time,” Davis said.

In 2014, Davis said the town set up a network of 13 security cameras that were instrumental in solving multiple crimes over the years.

Two of those cameras were positioned just feet away during one of the most high-profile incidents in Weldon in recent memory.

“That footage would have been very helpful, potentially it could have caught the suspects at that time,” Davis said.

Roanoke Rapids police identify man's remains found inside car at bottom of Roanoke River

Law enforcement sources told WRAL News that West had been found the day the car was retrieved from the water, with Roanoke Rapids police confirming that West’s remains were found six days later.

Investigators wanted to see the video from Weldon’s cameras, pointed right at the boat ramp where west was found.

“Regrettably, I had to let them know that we didn’t have any footage due to the camera system being down,” Davis said.

Davis told WRAL News the cameras had been offline since 2018 due to budget cuts. It stemmed from the departure of the company Roanoke Valley Energy from Weldon, which dealt a significant blow to the town’s tax revenue.

Without footage of the incident, Roanoke Rapids police told WRAL News on Thursday that investigators have been following multiple solid leads into West’s murder, but weren’t ready to name a person of interest yet.

Davis told WRAL News it would cost more than $50,000 to bring the town’s cameras back online, and he’s been seeking out grant money to help.

“We’ve solved crimes utilizing those cameras,” Davis said. “So, the quicker we can get those back up and going, I think the more beneficial it would be for the citizens of the town of Weldon.”