The Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Office responded to 586 law enforcement calls or complaints inside Columbia during October, Sheriff Darryl Liverman reported to the town’s board of aldermen on November 6.

There were 656 such calls in September and 570 in August.

The sheriff reported 30 ambulance and three fire calls inside the town in October compared with 31 ambulance and three fire calls in September and 20 ambulance and two fire calls in August.

Deputies issued 17 citations — six were drug related and the remainder for motor vehicle violations.

In the northwest sector of the town, as divided by Scuppernong Drive and Broad Street, there were one investigation and three citations for exceeding posted speed limit, expired registration, and speeding 51 miles an hour at a 35-mph zone.

In the northeast quadrant there were three investigations and six citations for expired registration, open container of alcoholic beverage, no operator’s license (two counts), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana. Also in the northeast were an on-view arrest for assault on a female and one order for arrest served for felony probation violation. Lastly, 10 warrants were served: one for driving while license revoked and nine for worthless checks.

In the southwest two citations were issued for no operator’s license and speeding 51/35.

And in the southeast sector six citations were issued for exceeding posted speed, no operator’s license, possession of drug paraphernalia (two counts), and misdemeanor possession of marijuana (two counts).  Also two warrants were served: harassing phone calls and domestic violence protective order violation, and for possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine.

Arrests made at the sheriff’s office were: a criminal summons served for damage to property; two arrest orders for failure to appear in court; and five warrants for felony larceny; incest with a child, statutory rape, indecent liberties with a minor; possession of controlled substance on prison/jail premises (two counts); and worthless checks.

Deputies assigned to duty inside Columbia drove 1,872 miles during October.

The sheriff distributed copies of a poster warning about the cause and effect of using synthetic marijuana (K2). He said the poster is displayed at Tyrrell Prison Work Farm.

And he showed a photograph of tobacco and marijuana recently seized from inside a basketball found on the prison yard. “Tobacco brings more [money] in prison than marijuana,” he commented.

The sheriff reported that a South Road Street party and a brawl on Fonsoe Street were the only incidents during the Scuppernong River Festival on October 14.

And Sheriff Liverman thanked outgoing Mayor Michael Griffin “for 10 years of cooperation.”