UPDATE: Home invasion suspect mistakenly freed surrenders
Jasper Floyd IV
By DEUCE NIVEN
UPDATE: A burglary and assault suspect mistakenly released from jail following a clerical jail surrendered himself at the Columbus County Detention Center early Wednesday.
Jasper Floyd IV, 20, of West Nance Street in Whiteville, was released from the Columbus County Detention Center Monday after several unrelated charges were dismissed in District Court, Assistant District Attorney Heath Nance said. He had been held on a $2.5 million bond on the felony charges.
Floyd and his next-door-neighbor, Jemel Antwan Thompson, 23, were charged last August with first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, and arson. Both are awaiting trial.
One of two men charged in a burglary that left an elderly woman shot in the leg last August is believed to be on the run this week, mistakenly released from jail, Assistant District Attorney Heath Nance said Tuesday.
Jasper Floyd IV, 20, of West Nance Street in Whiteville, was released from the Columbus County Detention Center Monday after several unrelated charges were dismissed in District Court, Nance said. He had been held on a $2.5 million bond on the felony charges, Nance said.
Floyd and his next-door-neighbor, Jemel Antwan Thompson, 23, were charged last August with first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, and arson.
They are accused in a burglary at the home of Rose Jean Blackmon, 76, just across NC 130 from the Brunswick Electric Membership Coop office east of Whiteville.
Blackmon was at home, alone with her dog, and was awakened by intruders just before 5 a.m. Tuesday, Capt. David Nobles of the Columbus County Sheriff’s office said at the time. Startled, Blackmon screamed, and one of the men shot her in the thigh before both men fled. She ran to a home across the highway, where a neighbor called 911.
When the district court charges against Floyd were dismissed Monday, a clerk erred on the paperwork, indicating that all pending charges had been dismissed. Based on those documents, Floyd was released by jail staff Monday evening, Nance said.
“We are working diligently trying to locate and return this subject back to custody,” Sheriff Lewis Hatcher said in a news release.
Anyone with information on where Floyd might be located is asked to contact the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office at 910-642-6551 or to call 911.
