Staff – May 12, 2025

Currituck County, North Carolina, a quiet coastal region known for its beaches and rural charm, has experienced relatively few high-profile scandals compared to larger urban areas. However, several incidents over the years have stirred local controversy and drawn attention. Here’s a rundown of some of the most notable scandals or contentious events tied to Currituck County, based on available historical and recent records:

Preston Mertes Manhunt (2023)
One of the more dramatic recent incidents involved Preston Mertes, a 29-year-old labeled “armed and dangerous” by the Currituck Sheriff’s Office. On January 30, 2023, Mertes fired five rifle shots during a high-speed chase that began in Dare County and ended with him crashing his vehicle near Macedonia Church Road in Currituck. He fled into the woods, sparking a nearly 24-hour manhunt. The chase damaged local property, including a business sign, and ended with his arrest after a chance encounter with Chief Deputy Jeff Walker on January 31. While not a scandal in the traditional sense, the incident raised questions about public safety and law enforcement response in a rural county, with locals buzzing about the unusual chaos.

Sheriff’s Office Controversies
The Currituck County Sheriff’s Office has faced scrutiny over the years, contributing to local discontent. In 2018, Sheriff Matt Beickert fired Deputy Wesley Liverman, who then ran against him in the 2022 election, losing narrowly (2,996 to 2,788 votes). Liverman’s campaign highlighted alleged mismanagement and retaliation, though specifics were more anecdotal than documented. Earlier, in 2008, Sheriff Susan Johnson faced legal trouble when indicted for felony embezzlement and obstruction of justice tied to misuse of county funds. She pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, paid restitution, and resigned. These episodes fueled perceptions of dysfunction within the sheriff’s office, a key institution in a small county.

Mid-Currituck Bridge Funding and Delays
The proposed Mid-Currituck Bridge, intended to connect the mainland to the Outer Banks, has been a slow-burning scandal of inefficiency and alleged mismanagement. First conceived decades ago, the $700 million project has faced repeated delays, with funding disputes and environmental concerns stalling progress. In 2022, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority secured a $417 million federal loan, yet as of March 2025, construction remains pending amid lawsuits from environmental groups and locals over potential ecological harm to Currituck Sound. Critics, including some residents, have accused county and state officials of prioritizing tourism dollars over community needs, with whispers of backroom deals—though no hard evidence has surfaced.

Development and Corruption Allegations
Currituck’s rapid growth—among the fastest in North Carolina—has brought tensions over land use and governance. In the early 2000s, the county’s shift from a hunting paradise to a vacation home hotspot led to zoning disputes and accusations of favoritism toward developers. A notable case involved the 2006 arrest of a county commissioner in a neighboring region (not Currituck directly) tied to a bribery scheme, which sparked rumors of similar practices in Currituck’s permitting process. No major convictions emerged locally, but the perception of “good ol’ boy” politics lingered. More recently, the 2017 solar farm moratorium (lifted by 2023) was seen by some as a knee-jerk reaction influenced by powerful landowners, though it lacked the scale of a true scandal.

Historical Context: Civil War Smuggling
Going further back, Currituck’s location near the Virginia border made it a smuggling hub during the Civil War. While not a modern scandal, local lore ties the county to illicit trade, with figures like Colonel Henry Shaw of Shawboro linked to Confederate efforts. No specific incidents stand out as explosive, but the county’s role in blockade-running left a legacy of intrigue noted in historical markers today.

These events, while significant locally, don’t match the scale of urban corruption or national scandals. Currituck’s controversies tend to reflect small-town dynamics—personal feuds, governance hiccups, and growth pains—rather than systemic corruption. Data is sparse on some older incidents, and much of the “scandal” vibe comes from community chatter rather than documented exposés. Still, they’ve shaped local discourse, especially around trust in leadership and development priorities.