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From Pitt County Sheriff’s Office

At 7:37 a.m. on October 5, 2024, deputies with the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported breaking and entering of a vehicle in progress at a Clark’s Neck Rd. address in Washington (Pitt County).

A Trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol was in the area conducting an unrelated investigation and responded to assist.

When the Trooper arrived on scene he reported seeing two Belgian Malinois dogs attacking a man on scene (the suspect). The dogs disengaged from the man and began running at the Trooper in an aggressive manner. The Trooper fired a shot, killing one of the dogs. The other continued running at him. The Trooper fired a second shot, killing the second dog.

The suspect was identified as 43-year-old Kevin Bryan Toler of Washington. Following an investigation of the complaint and after interviewing all witnesses, it was determined that Toler had broken into the victim’s vehicle, had attempted to break into the nearby residence of a different victim, and had assaulted the owner of the vehicle. Toler was arrested and charged with the following crimes.

• Felony Break/Enter Motor Vehicle
• Attempted Breaking or Entering of Building
• Misdemeanor Assault on a Female

EMS responded to the scene to examine the suspect for any possible injuries.

Toler was transported to the Pitt County Detention Center, where he was denied bond. He is scheduled for a first appearance hearing on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.

Pitt County Animal Control was notified due to the circumstances with the dogs.