Latest news with #HighPointPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
2 killed in head-on crash on US 29 North in High Point, police say
HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — Two drivers were killed in a head-on crash overnight Sunday, according to the High Point Police Department. On Sunday at 2:20 a.m., officers responded to a crash involving two cars on US 29 North near West Green Drive and found the drivers of each vehicle dead at the scene. The victims were identified as Jose Altagracia De Leon Corcino, 44, of Greensboro, and Rolando Ventura Alberto, 19, of Thomasville. An investigation determined Alberto was driving a 2017 Chevy Cruze south in the northbound lanes of US 29, and Corcino was driving north in a 2005 Honda Odyssey when the two vehicles crashed head-on. At this time, it is unknown whether speed or impairment are factors in the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Yahoo
Police confront trend in car thefts
HIGH POINT — Car thefts jumped an eye-popping 124% last year compared to 2023, according to the recent annual report of the High Point Police Department. The police handled 692 vehicle thefts last year, which works out to an average of one car stolen every 13 hours. By comparison, there were 308 vehicle thefts in 2023. The reasons for the increase in thefts range from car owners neglecting to lock their vehicles to a social media prank that went viral during 2024, police say. The early figures for 2025 indicate the trend reversing somewhat: For the first two months of 2025, there have been 64 vehicle thefts, down 36% from the 100 for the same period in 2024. Lt. Kim Rieson, supervisor of the police department's property crimes unit, said that officers are reminding the public that locking car doors is the best defense against thefts. 'Not only are they stealing the cars when they aren't locked, they are stealing items people leave behind in them, including guns,' Rieson told The High Point Enterprise. She said that some well-intentioned car owners may think they have locked their vehicle when they haven't, emphasizing the importance of double-checking. 'Some people hit the unlock button instead of the lock button,' she said. 'Making sure you have locked your car will certainly help.' Car thieves will go through neighborhoods looking for vehicles that are unlocked. Rieson said people should call police if they see a group walking along a neighborhood street beside a slow-moving vehicle. 'You may see that car inching down the road to pick people up who are looking to steal a car,' Rieson said. 'It may be a car not common in that neighborhood.' Another problem has been people leaving their vehicle unattended while it runs to warm the engine and interior, especially on cold days. Car thieves will go into neighborhoods looking for unattended cars that are running. 'Those people are at risk of someone coming down the road looking for a car with exhaust fumes showing,' Rieson said. 'It's a moment of opportunity.' A national social media prank that centered on Hyundai and Kia also added fuel to the increase in vehicle thefts last year. The police handled thefts of 187 Hyundais and 174 Kias. Officers hosted two events in High Point last year to give out steering wheel locks to drivers of Kia and Hyundai vehicles. 'We focused on those vehicles because there had been an increase in break-ins and thefts involving those vehicles in our area and across the country,' said police communication specialist Victoria Ruvio. For the first two months of this year, Hyundai thefts have dropped 53%, from 30 to 14, and Kia thefts have declined 63%, from 24 to nine, according to police figures. Rieson said the outreach to Hyundai and Kia owners has made a difference. 'We have tried to educate owners of Kias and Hyundais about better securing their vehicle,' she said. 'We think that has helped us so far this year.'
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man, 72, injured in hit-and-run
HIGH POINT — An SUV struck and injured a 72-year-old man along a road in the northwestern part of the city and then drove away on Wednesday, police said The man, whose name was not released, told officers that he was walking with his dog on Oakview Road near the intersection with Rolling Road shortly before 5 p.m. when he was hit by a black SUV and knocked to the ground, the High Point Police Department said. The man was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries, police said Friday. Police are asking for the public's help finding the driver. The SUV appeared to be an early 2000s black GMC sport utility vehicle. It may have damage to the front of the vehicle. Police ask that anyone with information call the High Point Police Department at 336-883-3224. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of High Point at 336-889-4000 or by downloading the P3 Tips app.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
High Point police looking for black SUV suspected in hit-and-run
HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — A man out for a walk with his dog was hit by a car, and the driver is nowhere to be found. High Point police need your help finding the person responsible. Chuck Sova was walking his goldendoodle, Beau, when High Point police say a car hit him when trying to make a right turn onto Rolling Road and knocked him on the ground. A police report notes that before taking off, the driver reversed before driving off on Oakview Road. Sova was left with serious injuries. He was taken to the hospital, but his dog Beau is OK. High Point police released a photo of what is believed to be the suspect vehicle. Police said it is an early 2000s Black GMC SUV, possibly with damage on the front. If this weren't enough, it's the second scary incident for Sova and Beau when on a walk. Six months ago, FOX8 spoke with Sova after Beau was attacked by another dog on a walk. Sova's significant other said Sova has a long road to recovery ahead. He has a fractured kneecap and is scheduled to have surgery for his injuries next week If you know anything about this vehicle or the driver, you're asked to call the High Point Police Department at (336) 883-3224 or Crimestoppers at (336) 889-4000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
High Point man enters guilty plea for federal sex crime charges
HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — A man facing numerous sex crime charges at both the federal and state level has entered a guilty plea in federal court. Joseph Dominick Santora attended a plea hearing on Feb. 4 after pleading guilty to two of the six counts he was indicted for last year. Santora pleaded guilty to receiving child porn and sexual exploitation of minors. In exchange for this plea, the remaining six charges — two counts of distribution of child pornography; a separate count of sexual exploitation of minors; possession of child pornography that involved a minor under the age of 12 years of age; coercion of an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years, a minor, to engage in the production of child pornography; and possession of child pornography — were dropped. For the sexual exploitation charge, he faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison. For the charge of receiving child porn, he faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. He could face a fine of up to $250,000 in addition to prison time. Santora was initially charged with first-degree forcible rape, human trafficking of a child and sexual servitude of a child at the end of April, 2024. According to High Point police, in February 2024, they responded to a report of a missing juvenile and a sexual assault. The victim, a girl who had been reported missing in another state, told police that she had met a man online and ran away from home to meet him. The man bought her a bus ticket. She said she did not know the man's real name. Son of accused attempted Trump assassin taken back into federal custody after Greensboro plea hearing in child porn case It came out in court that the 16-year-old victim was reported missing from Massachusetts and was found at a hotel in the Triad area. According to warrants, Santora raped the girl. Warrants also allege he held that same juvenile victim in sexual servitude 'with the intent that the other person be held in involuntary or sexual servitude' in January of this year. He also faces drug charges as a result of the investigation. . High Point Police Department filed 21 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, 12 counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and 13 counts of indecent liberties with a minor. According to documents, these have an offense date of January 2023. Jan 22, 2024: North Carolina SBI received a CyberTip about an Instagram account with the username 'localdilf420' posting 'apparent child pornography.' They identified Santora as the account holder and the tip was forwarded to the High Point Police Department, according to court documents. Feb 1, 2024: High Point police find the missing girl at an area hotel. April 29, 2024: Santora initially charged in connection to the teenage girl's assault. April 30, 2024: Santora hit with drug charges as a result of the search May 9, 2024: He was charged with obstruction of justice and felony conspiracy, allegedly for attempting to get help destroying evidence connected to the investigation. May 25, 2024: The High Point Police Department filed 21 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, 12 counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, and 13 counts of indecent liberties with a minor. May 29, 2024: HPPD provided the FBI's Charlotte office with the phone and a flash drive containing the contents of the phone, which the FBI manually reviewed before issuing their complaint on May 31. May 31, 2024: He was federally charged by the FBI. June, 2024: A grand jury indicted him on various sex crimes Jan 9, 2025: Santora entered a guilty plea in federal court Feb. 4, 2025: He appeared in court for his sentencing plea He is scheduled to appear in court for the state-level charges in March and be sentenced for the federal crimes in April. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
