The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating a case involving playground equipment being taken from Hampstead Kiwanis Park in Pender County.
The initial report was made by the sheriff's office on Jan. 23 at the request of County Manager Colby Sawyer, the sheriff's office said.
"After determining this was involving county government, it was requested to have the NC State Bureau of Investigation take over the investigation," the sheriff's office stated.
The playground equipment in question is from the old Kiwanis Park playground, which was recently approved to be replaced by the county commissioners after several residents raised safety concerns due to the deteriorating condition of the playground.
At a Pender County Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 20, community member Beth Butler spoke during the public comment to thank Randy Burton, board chairman, for helping to facilitate the replacement of the playground.
Butler stated that her thanks also came "on behalf of the Eagles Watch community of over 1,200."
Hampstead playground to be replaced due to worsening condition, safety concerns
"This community reached out to me and asked me if I could help facilitate them getting some pieces of the playground that they could refurbish to use in their community," Butler said. "They had been saving up for a playground, and it is very expensive to start from scratch."
Butler said volunteers and members of the Eagles Watch community homeowners association were able to salvage several pieces of the old playground to use.
Three days after Butler's comment, the matter was referred to the county sheriff's office, and then to the SBI.
According to Brandi Cobb, the county's communications manager, "Pender County did not authorize the taking of the playground equipment from Hampstead Kiwanis Park, and the matter has been referred to law enforcement for review."
As of Feb. 13, the Pender County Sheriff's Office said it is not aware of the equipment's location.
Eagles Watch is a gated community in Hampstead. The StarNews was unable to confirm if the equipment was located there.
When reached for comment, Burton said, "I've been a law enforcement officer for 38 years. I welcome any investigation that leads to the facts."
"While law enforcement is reviewing the matter, Pender County will have no additional information to provide," Cobb said.
The SBI cannot share any more details about a case it is actively reviewing, according to Chad Flowers, the organization's public information director. Flowers said that when the SBI finalizes its case, it will be sent to the district attorney for review.
Charlie Kingree is the Pender County and trending topics reporter for the StarNews. He can be reached at [email protected].