Sheriff's office damaged by released arrestee

WENTWORTH - Eden Police Department arrested Kenneth Gravely for numerous charges, including driving while intoxicated.

Following his arrest, Gravely was taken before a magistrate in Wentworth. The magistrate explained the charges, assigned a court date, and released Gravely on an unsecured appearance bond of $6,000.

Shortly after his release, Gravely smashed a window of a patrol vehicle parked in the parking lot of the Sheriff’s Office. He then forced open a door to gain entry inside the unoccupied Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division. While inside, Gravely “trashed” offices causing damage to several items before leaving the building to meet a group of deputies that had surrounded the scene.

He was taken into custody and upon a search of his person deputies recovered a detective’s badge and bullets.

Gravely has been charged with FELONY BREAKING & ENTERING, LARCENY and BREAKING & ENTERING A MOTOR VEHICLE. His bond of $15,000 secured has not been met and he is now in the Rockingham County Jail. Sheriff Sam Page requested the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the incident and expressed his appreciation of their assistance.

Sheriff Page stated, “This criminal act is surprising. It’s bad enough to be arrested for driving while intoxicated, but it is sad to be stuck on stupid”.

Incident Date: December 17, 2008
Incident Time: 5:16 a.m.
Incident Location: 1088 NC 65, Wentworth, NC
Reporting Officer: Deputy Leotis Chestnut
Person Arrested: Kenneth Clarence Gravely, 21, of 1235 Royal Rd. Eden