ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — The Pasquotank Sheriff’s Office has added more patrols inside Elizabeth City after complaints of increased crime.
Sheriff Tommy Wooten said they’ve always worked closely with the city’s police department, but with increased shootings and overdoses, they’re stepping things up.
DeShawn Morris grew up in Elizabeth City and moved back in 2018. He said he’s noticed the increase in crime.
"It’s different when you’ve grown up here all your life and you can actually witness and see and tell the difference," said Morris.
Sheriff Wooten said gun violence has gotten out of control, and they've been requested to help patrol in Elizabeth City.
"The city has been riddled with gun violence and overdoses," he said. "That’s the reason we’ve increased patrols, I mean we’ve had shooting after shooting after shooting, overdoses every single week."
He said since March, his deputies have taken about a dozen guns off the street.
The Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office has responded to 21 overdoses and the Elizabeth City Police Department has responded to 55 overdoses since the beginning of this year.
Morris points to a lack of resources in the city.
"I was a guy at one point in time as a youth, I experienced a little bit of trouble here myself, but I was able to get out of that," he said. "There was more resources back then that individuals wasn’t running to the gangs."
Sheriff Wooten said more than 90% of the violence in the city is gang-related and he has a message for the people involved.
"I would ask them to please try to find a different path in life," he said."
Morris echoes that sentiment.
"We will be a better person if we practice more peace and unity than division," he said.
Sheriff Wooten said the Pasquotank Sheriff’s Office is fully staffed and ready to continue helping cut down on crime in the area.
According to the National Gun Violence Archive, 20 people were shot in Elizabeth City last year and three of them died.
The Elizabeth City Police Department also announced on Wednesday that the city took another step on its Violent Crime Action Plan. The department spearheaded the Violent Crime Reduction Focused Deterrence Call-In. The initiative identifies people committing acts of violence and invites them to a meeting with the community and law enforcement.
Interim Police Chief James Avens said offenders are offered resources to help change their lifestyles and stop committing violent crimes. He said nine candidates attended a "call-in" Wednesday where they were given a warning.
"It is a promise to vigorously prosecute repeat, violent, and/or groups of offenders who continue to engage in violent activity. More than just a warning, this program is an offer by the community and law enforcement to assist those who want to change their lifestyles by delivering resources," Avens said in a press release.