Fraud suspect nabbed in Bertie County

Published 10:30 am Thursday, March 24, 2016

WINDSOR – A Spring Hope man wanted in connection with reports of fraud in Pitt, Nash – and now Bertie – counties was apprehended without resistance here Tuesday afternoon by the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office.

27-year-old Domeniyce Harris is wanted for fraud on some 19 charges, according to Bertie County Sheriff John Holley.

Harris was believed to have been operating in the other two counties, but authorities there were unaware of his whereabouts.

Domeniyce Harris

Domeniyce Harris

Holley stated that his office had received reports last week of a man posing as a door-to-door salesman in the Windsor area.

He said the latest reports were given to him personally by several persons this past Sunday as the sheriff attended an anniversary worship service at Cedar Landing Missionary Baptist Church, south of Windsor.

Following on leads from BCSO investigators on some of the county locations the suspect was believed to frequent, Holley said an observation stakeout was set up at the Duck-Thru store in Windsor located on the US 13-17 Bypass.

Tuesday afternoon, a suspect believed to be Harris, entered the store to make a purchase. Believing he was being observed, the suspect retreated to the store’s men’s restroom and refused to come out. After several minutes, the sheriff himself entered the facility and placed Harris under arrest and took him into custody at approximately 1:40 p.m.

In Pitt County, Harris has been charged with six counts of identity theft; one count of operating a vehicle with expired registration and inspection; one count of speeding, driving with a revoked license; one count of operating a vehicle without insurance; and, one count of failure-to-appear, driving with a revoked license, failure to reduce speed.

Harris’ Nash County charges were: one count of identity theft; one count of larceny from a person; one count of failure to appear, larceny; and, one count of failure to appear, driving with a revoked license.

As of late Tuesday, Harris’ Bertie County charges are pending.

Harris is being held in the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail under $44,000 secured bond on all charges in both counties.

The Pitt and Nash County’s Sheriff’s Offices had been seeking the public’s help in locating Harris. He was identified as having several visible tattoos: one was of a Bible verse on his lower left arm, along with “Cross $ praying hands,” while another, “Qui Ego Sum” was located on his right arm.

His last known address was Spring Hope, but he had frequented the Rocky Mount area.

Holley asks that anyone who feels they may have been a fraud victim in this case to contact the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office at 252-794-5330.