Saturday, September 23, 2023

Brunswick Sheriff’s series of community talks on safety, heroin epidemic, begins tonight

Brunswick County sheriff John Ingram announced Friday that his law enforcement agency is aggressively pursuing known heroin dealers in an effort to solve what he called an epidemic of drug use. Photo by Hilary Snow.
Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram announced Oct. 23 that his law enforcement agency is aggressively pursuing known heroin dealers in an effort to solve what he called an epidemic of drug use. Photo by Hilary Snow.

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office is hosting the first of several public meetings on community safety and what officials have called the growing heroin epidemic, tonight in Holden Beach.

The meeting will be held at Sabbath Home Baptist Church Family Life Center in Holden Beach at 7 p.m. Tuesday, according to sheriff’s office spokeswoman Emily Flax.

“These meetings aim to give citizens a chance to voice any concerns within their communities with regard to crime and safety, and the growing heroin epidemic,” Flax said. “It will also give the sheriff’s office a chance to provide feedback, updates on current initiatives, and other offer information about what is happening at the sheriff’s office.”

Read related story: ‘Operation You’re Next’ aims to round up Brunswick County heroin dealers

The community talk at Holden Beach is part of a series of meetings the sheriff’s office will be hosting throughout Brunswick County, Flax said.

Due to the upcoming holidays, the next meeting will not be held until 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Senior Resource Center on Highway 17 in Shallotte.  The Southport, Boling Spring Lakes and Oak Island community meeting will follow at the Senior Resource Center in Southport at 7 p.m. Monday​, Jan. 25.

Sheriff John Ingram will personally attend the meeting along with members of the sheriff’s office drug, investigative and road patrol units, Flax said. Several other public officials will also be in attendance, including Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Ola Lewis, Assistant District Attorney Chris Thomas and representatives from Coastal Horizons.

“Sheriff Ingram hopes that holding these meetings will help the sheriff’s office have a better understanding of the concerns of each community so that the sheriff’s office can better serve them,” Flax said.

Four additional meetings will be held for the area of Grissettown, Ash and Longwood, the Supply and Bolivia communities, the Calabash and Ocean Isle Beach areas, as well as the Leland, Navassa, and Northwest communities.  Dates, times and locations for these meetings will be announced at a later date.

For more information about the community meetings contact the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office at 910-253-2777 or visit the sheriff’s office webpage.

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