Rocky Mount Telegram from Rocky Mount, North Carolina • 3

wwwxoclcymounttelegram.com Rocky Mount Telegram Thursday, September 13,2012 3A Local Authorities file charges in trooper's death and obtaining property by false pretenses. According to court records, Rodgers also is charged with misdemeanor counts of re By BRIE HANDCRAAF StaffWriter Authorities charged the suspect in an N.C. Highway Patrol trooper's Saturday morning death with 19 charges, including ChristopherMcCoyRodgers, 40, of WiUiamston is charged with felony counts of murder, flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, first-degree burglary, common law robbery and two counts each of kidnapping Specialist Laura Hourigan said an officer spotted Rodgers' 1995 Nissan 200SX near New Hope Road and Rogers Lane and called for backup before attempting to stop the suspect near the intersection of U.S. 264 and US. 64 near Wendell.

Rodgers refused to stop and led law enforcement on a multi-county chase on U.S. 64 before exiting on N.C. 231 and re-entering U.S. 64 driving east in the westbound lanes. De- wrong way on a duel highway, driving while intoxicated, careless and reckless driving, speeding, expired registration and expired inspection.

He is being held at Central Prison in Raleigh. Police obtained charges early Saturday morning after a woman alleged Rodgers forced his way into her Raleigh home, assaulted her, restrained her and her 21-month-old child before he stole her ATM card. Raleigh police Public Affairs Muth and another trooper attempted to deploy stop sticks to deflate the suspects' tires. Rodgers allegedly hit DeMuth, who died at the scena Rodgers crashed his car into a guard rail near the intersection of US. 64 and Old Franklin Road then ran from the vehicle.

Officers took him into custody a short distance away and transported him to Nash General Hospital, where he was treated and released Tuesday. RODGERS sisting a public officer, assault on a child under 12, assault on a female and larceny of motor fuel. Additionally, authorities cited Rodgers for speeding to elude arrest, driving the said. When it came time for graduation, Finney said he was proud to be the first to call him Trooper Bobby Gene DeMuth. "When I stepped in front of him and put that badge on him for the first time, a tear was rolling down from his eye," Finney said.

"You could see his pride. It was an emotional tear that he had done it, he'd accomplished what he set out to'do." He challenged the nearly 1,700 people in attendance to honor DeMuth's legacy by "living our lives the way he lived his every single day." "We are now left with nothing but our memories and our thoughts, but rest assured that Gene is always going to be in our hearts," he said. "He is in heaven now patrolling heaven's highways, and I know he is grinning from ear to ear." After the service, a processional of family, friends and coworkers drove to Red Oak Cemetery as hundreds of people lined the streets. Gordon said businesses had employees standing with their hands over their hearts while residents stood on their porches or outside their cars waving American flags. "It was really Uplifting for all the law enforcement to see the support the community has for what we do on a day-today basis," Gordon said.

"It was absolutely amazing. I was speechless and it is something I will always remember." DeMuth leaves behind his wife, Michelle, and 8-year-old son, Trevor. Trooper From Page I A outpouring of support from law enforcement across the country and the community. "The one thing that needs to come out of all of this, whether in law enforcement or in the community, you need to take the time to tell your loved ones you love them," N.C. Highway Patrol First Sgt.

Jeff Gordon said. "We live in such a fast-paced society that sometimes we get caught up in our day-to-day activities, but we need to take the time to slow down because life is too precious." Lt. Steven Finney, who was commandant of the training school when DeMuth joined the N.C. fc.m 1 Telegram photo EmmaTannenbaum The late Trooper Bobby G. DeMuth wife Michelle DeMuth is escorted to her seat on Wednesday at Red Oak Cemetery before DeMuth's burial service.

Highway Patrol, said him nuts. Their shared DeMuth's determina-DeMuth's never-fading US. Marine Corps back- tion made the time at the smile initially drove ground combined with school memorable, he person who didn't like her." Having worked within the court system, Rolanda said she is willing to be patient for investigators to thoroughly evaluate the events leading to her younger sister's death. "I feel like if it takes them two weeks or one month that's fine," she said. "We want them to get all of then-evidence together and get all of their ducks in a row.

We want them to have a solid case so nobody gets off on a "Growing up, we would dance around, watch movies, sing and put on puppet shows," Evans said. "We never fought." Evans recounted how just a couple weeks ago Hedgepeth called her at 2 a.m. from Cha: pel Hill to ask her what she was doing. "I told (Faith) I was working on homework, and she said she wanted to come home and see me," Evans said. "She drove that night more than an hour-and-a-half to come see me.

We Student From Page I A Wednesday at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Warrenton to grieve with Hedgepeth's family. The church was jammed to capacity with a line stretching through the church hallway and out onto the front steps. As one of Hedgepeth's closest friends, Alexis Evans said she and her friend grew up "as sisters." slept in the same bed together and stayed up talking until 7:30 (a.m.) about boys, school and everything." As a Gates Millennium Scholar, Hedgepeth received a full ride to UNC-Chapel Hill, after which she planned to become either a pediatrician or elementary school teacher and return to serve her community Hedgepeth would have turned 20 on Sept. 26.

Hedgepeth's older sister, Rolanda, considered herself a second mom for the girl as she grew up. "(Faith) was just a good kid, and very smart," Rolanda Hedgepeth said. "She was a beautiful person who didn't deserve what happened to her." Hedgepeth was a cheerleader, a tutor for young children, a talented dancer at Haliwa-Saponi powwows and a leader in youth American Indian organizations, she said. "(Faith) was very much loved by everybody," Rolanda Hedgepeth said. "I never met a Williams, who is a vet- to Iraq and Kuwait Battalion at Fort Bragg eran, suggested the idea.

In 2010-11, Williams while recovering from He served for 24 years in spent approximately 10 heart issues that devel-the U.S. Army and Army months with the Wound- oped while he was over-Reserve, including tours ed Warrior Transition seas. one who would like to show support for the soldiers and their families is invited to stop by the park for a ceremony at 9:15 a.m. "We would appreciate anyone who could come out and see them," said Al Williams, an Elks Lodge member and co-chairman of tjie event This is the second year the local Elks Lodge has sponsored a weekend trip for wounded soldiers and their families from Fort Bragg. back Steakhouse, fish and visit the American Music Jubilee in Selma, Roma's Clydesdale Farm in Castalia and the Rose Hill Conference Center in Nashville, among other activities.

During their visit, soldiers and their families will stay for free at the Holiday Inn and the Hampton Inn. On Saturday morning, the group will visit the veterans memorial at Jack Laughery Park, 321 N. Church St Any 1 V.V fl (3 fssnmy GEGEBffi QQCm (3SBfl Wounded From Page I A "We want to let them know it's appreciated, and we're behind them," said Harold Colston, an Elks Lodge member and co-chairman of the event. The weekend trip is being made possible with help from donations and services provided by local businesses, organizations and residents. The trip will start Friday afternoon with a limousine ride from Fort Bragg to Rocky Mount, where the soldiers and their families will be treated to dinner at Olive Garden.

On Saturday and Sunday, the group will have opportunities to tour the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, dine at Out- MODEL CLOSEOUT I- -loll A EVENT Anniversary Sale 61 Customer appreciation Celebration A SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 10:00 am pm Come see our selection of Used Vehicles! i To be catered by Doug Sauls BSQ. (Food will be served between 12 2pm) sfS AVISOS 3321 Sunset Avenue Rocky Mount NC Mm Win iMjj.ii Lenders will be on site. 77 1 RCJ 1 Fit few (DcmTL HWY 43 3713 Dortches Blvd RatKusect crop. $1,000 MINIMUM DEPOSIT insured 000 'Annl irantap not xaam a ot puOtatw am. www.Jammymitchellautosales.com 252.972.2277 CALL FC3CTO RATES 451-C377.