OAK ISLAND — Answers are in short supply as Oak Island police are investigating the mayor’s son on child pornography charges while, at the same time, the chief of police has unexpectedly resigned without giving a reason.
Oak Island’s Police Chief Greg Jordan resigned Friday and the town’s former chief of police, Wilburn Ingram, has been sworn in to serve as chief in the interim.
RELATED: Oak Island Mayor’s son held on $2 million bond relating to child pornography charges
The Oak Island Police Department declined to provide any details as to why Jordan resigned and the Town of Oak Island’s spokesperson, Kyle Thomas, said he did not know why the chief had stepped down.
Mayor’s son arrested
Last week, the son of Oak Island Mayor Cin Brochure was arrested again on charges relating to child pornography. Justin Brochure, 36, was first arrested by Leland Police Department on June 28 and charged with 31 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
On Oct. 10, Brochure was arrested at the New Hanover County Courthouse for violating a pretrial release agreement. He spent two days in the custody of New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office before being transferred to Brunswick County Friday, Oct. 19.
There, Brochure was being held on a secured bond initially set at $2 million. By Monday, his bond had been reduced dramatically, to $50,000.
As of Tuesday, Brochure is no longer being held at the Brunswick County jail.
According to Emily Flax, spokesperson for Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, Brochure’s case is being handled by the Oak Island Police Department. Flax said the Sheriff’s Office was only the arresting agency, not the charging agency, and indicated more information would be available on the warrants for Brochure’s arrest, documents held by the Brunswick County Clerk of Court.
Oak Island Police Department declined to explain why they were handling the case, despite the fact that Brochure was originally arrested by the Leland Police Department, and subsequently handled by New Hanover and Brunswick authorities.
Leland’s Police Chief, Mike James, said that though Leland served Brochure his initial warrant, Oak Island charged him. Chief James said Oak Island Detective Kristy Cox DeMello was the charging officer.
The Oak Island Police Department deferred inquiries to the town’s spokesperson, who said he thought Brochure’s case was being handled by Leland.
“I didn’t know it was an Oak Island case,” Thomas said. “I thought that was a Leland case. Maybe they’re just thinking because his mother is in Oak Island.”
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