Staff – April 17, 2025

In Part II, publishing tomorrow, April 18, 2025, we dive into the data on where Currituck ranks with other North Eastern counties in public engagement.

Currituck County Deputies on Patrol Drive Recent Arrests in Drug Crackdown

Currituck County, North Carolina, a coastal region celebrated for its beaches and wild horses, depends on the tireless efforts of the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office deputies to maintain public safety across its 540 square miles of land and water. While Sheriff Matthew W. Beickert, one of the region’s most elusive and less public sheriffs, oversees the office, it is the deputies on patrol who are responsible for nearly all arrests, including a series of drug-related busts in April 2025. This article spotlights the deputies’ frontline work, the recent arrests they’ve made, and the challenges they face in a county with limited public reporting on crime.

Sheriff Beickert’s Low Profile

Sheriff Matthew W. Beickert, in office since 2018, is known for his minimal public presence, making him one of the most elusive sheriffs in northeastern North Carolina. Unlike sheriffs in counties like Beaufort, Dare, Pasquotank, and Halifax, who often engage with media, Beickert rarely appears in the press or makes public statements, as seen in his brief comments following a September 2024 officer-involved shooting. His reserved approach leaves the deputies’ patrol work as the most visible aspect of the Sheriff’s Office’s efforts to combat crime.

Deputies on Patrol: The Heart of Recent Arrests

In April 2025, Currituck County deputies on patrol conducted several high-impact arrests, primarily through traffic stops that uncovered drug-related offenses, demonstrating their critical role in addressing illegal drug activity:

• April 10, 2025: Deputies arrested a woman after discovering illegal drugs during a routine traffic stop. Specific details about the drugs or charges were not released, but the stop highlights the deputies’ vigilance in identifying criminal activity during everyday patrols.
• April 11, 2025: A Suffolk, Virginia, man faced multiple drug-related charges after deputies found illegal substances during a traffic stop. This arrest reflects the deputies’ efforts to disrupt drug trafficking routes passing through the county.
• April 14, 2025: Deputies apprehended a man after a traffic violation led to the discovery of a “large amount” of illegal drugs. Though the Sheriff’s Office did not disclose specific charges or drug types, the bust underscores the deputies’ role in significant drug seizures.

These incidents, reported by WAVY News, showcase the deputies’ skill in leveraging traffic stops to intercept drugs, a key strategy in a county intersected by highways that facilitate trafficking. The Sheriff’s Office’s Narcotics Unit likely supports these efforts, but it is the patrol deputies who execute the stops and make the arrests, often acting on keen observation and quick decision-making.

Sheriff’s Office Operations and Patrol Challenges

The Currituck County Sheriff’s Office, located at 125 College Way, Barco, serves a county geographically split into three areas by state and county lines, creating unique challenges for deputies on patrol. With 74 sworn officers, 34 detention officers, and support staff, the office manages patrol, investigations, a SWAT team, marine patrol, and the Currituck County Detention Center, which holds up to 62 inmates. Deputies on patrol, operating across rural roads and tourist-heavy areas like the Outer Banks, are the backbone of the Sheriff’s Office’s crime-fighting efforts.

Crime Trends and Deputies’ Impact

Historical data from 2017 shows Currituck County had an arrest rate of 1,344.49 per 100,000 residents, 81.93% above the national average, with larceny/theft (237 arrests), burglary (97), and drug offenses among the top charges. While 2025 data is unavailable, the April arrests indicate that deputies continue to prioritize drug-related crimes. Currituck’s proximity to Virginia and its status as a tourist destination make it a potential corridor for drug trafficking, with deputies on patrol playing a critical role in intercepting illegal substances along highways.

The deputies’ efforts extend beyond arrests. Community programs, such as the Sheriff’s Summer Camp for middle and high school students, aim to prevent crime through youth engagement, though patrol deputies are less directly involved in these initiatives. Their primary impact is felt on the streets, where their arrests disrupt cycles of drug-related crime that can lead to addiction and property offenses.

Transparency and Public Awareness

The April 2025 arrests highlight the deputies’ effectiveness in tackling drug crimes, but the lack of detailed public reporting limits recognition of their work. The Sheriff’s Office’s sparse disclosures—omitting names, specific charges, or drug quantities in the April cases—contrast with more transparent agencies. This opacity, combined with Beickert’s elusive public presence, can leave residents unaware of the deputies’ daily contributions to safety.

The Currituck County Detention Center, where arrestees are processed, offers some rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism, but details are not widely shared. Deputies on patrol, focused on enforcement, rely on these systems to support their efforts, but the lack of public data underscores a broader challenge in showcasing their impact.

Conclusion

Currituck County’s deputies on patrol, more so than Sheriff Matthew W. Beickert—one of the region’s most elusive and less public sheriffs—who are the driving force behind nearly all arrests, including the significant drug busts of April 2025. Through traffic stops and vigilant enforcement, these deputies disrupt drug trafficking in a county vulnerable to its geographic and tourism-driven challenges. However, limited public reporting on arrests hampers awareness of their work.

As Currituck County navigates its role as a coastal destination, the deputies on patrol remain the frontline defenders of public safety, their efforts shaping the county’s fight against crime.