Hilda's Country Store Robbery Solved (one suspect remains at-large) | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    On December 27, 2012 at approximately 6:15 p.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office received a report of an armed robbery at Hilda's Country Store on Cherry Run Road in Washington. Deputies responded to the location and learned that two white males entered the store and demanded money. Both suspects were brandishing a handgun and had their faces covered. After taking an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspects fled the scene on foot.



    Investigators conducted interviews, collected evidence, and executed a search warrant at a suspect's residence. As a result of the information and evidence gathered during the investigation, Investigator Scott Williams applied for and obtained a warrant charging Adam Augustus Tate, age 20, of Clark Road in Bath with Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. Tate was arrested on January 8th, by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. He was taken before Magistrate David Curtis and held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $75,000.00 secured bond.

    The investigation continued and additional leads were developed. On February 22nd, Investigator Scott Williams applied for and obtained warrants charging Ethan Casey Sparrow, age 21, of Woodstock Road in Belhaven and William Dakota Selby, age 20, of Highway 45 in Belhaven with one count each of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. Sparrow was served in the Beaufort County Detention Center where he was being held for a probation violation.

    Sparrow was held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $175,000.00 secured bond set by Magistrate Eric Holmes for this and other charges.Thanks to a Crime Stoppers tip, Dakota Selby was arrested on February 26th. Selby was served with two(2) counts of Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon for the Hilda's Country Store and Quarterdeck robberies; two(2) counts of Breaking and Entering, two(2) counts of Larceny after Breaking and Entering and Felony Safe Cracking for the Terra Ceia and Pungo Christian school break-ins; one(1) count of Breaking and Entering Place of Worship; and one(1) count of Misdemeanor Larceny for the theft of copper wire in Belhaven. Selby was brought before Magistrate Donald Sadler and held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $500,000.00 secured bond.


    Major Kenneth Watson
      Beaufort County Sheriff's Office