NAVASSA — A council member representing District 2 in the town of Navassa has been arrested according to Brunswick County records.
James Hardy was taken in Thursday, July 7, and charged with driving with a revoked license and failure to stop for a police siren. According to Police Chief Darryll DeCotis, officers attempted to pull over Hardy for expired tags.
“That’s what drew their attention,” DeCotis explained.
When asked the reasoning Hardy gave the officers for not stopping, DeCotis relayed: “He said he didn’t have to.”
Instead, Hardy drove to his home where police then made the arrest. Inmate records indicate Hardy will be released on a $3,500 secured bond Friday.
The 35-year-old-old council member — whose term is set to expire in December 2023 — was recently appointed as finance officer for Navassa. The town, population 2,100, has been experiencing hardships over the last few months. The Local Government Commission — which oversees municipalities’ finances as an extension of the Department of State Treasurer — almost stepped in after the town’s five council members couldn’t form a quorum to host meetings and take care of town business.
Primarily, after Claudia Bray resigned, they needed to appoint a new finance officer in order to pay bills and make payroll. The council voted June 16 for Hardy to help in the interim, with Bray continuing to contract services while the town searches for its replacement.
Port City Daily reached out to Hardy and Mayor Eulis Willis — Navassa follows a mayor-council city structure instead of a town-manager-council structure — for comment, but did not hear back from either as of press.
Catch up on previous reporting:
- Navassa is in jeopardy again, soon without a town administrator, finance officer or budget
- Navassa’s leaders are missing. Now a state commission is closer to taking over
- ‘Pyrrhic victory’: Navassa’s divided council reunites to debate next moves, save town
- Navassa’s leaders reappear to pass budget, appoint finance officer, but not without tension
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