Wanted Washington man eludes warrants for six months
Published 6:18 pm Thursday, January 3, 2019
An alleged thief remains on the run this week in eastern North Carolina with warrants in three counties dating back to July, and police are looking to the public for information on his whereabouts.
Michael Person Bray is wanted in Beaufort, Pitt and Edgecombe counties on a host of charges, including multiple counts of breaking and entering of a motor vehicle, felony larceny, injury to real property, attempted larceny and driving while license revoked.
Bray’s flight from justice dates back to July 20, when a warrant was issued for his arrest in Pitt County on charges of motor vehicle breaking and entering. He is also wanted in both Pitt and Edgecombe counties for failure to appear in court for traffic charges.
In Beaufort County, a warrant for Bray’s arrest was issued on Dec. 4, after he allegedly broke into a landscaping trailer on Camp Leach Road and stole equipment, which he then sold to an unsuspecting buyer. That incident occurred on Nov. 22. Deputies were able to meet up with the buyer who then shared Bray’s identity.
“The truck was locked with landscaping equipment, but he manipulated the brackets in a way that he was able to get the equipment off the trailer,” Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jim Vanlandingham said.
With a last known address at Elm View Drive, just outside of Washington, Vanlandingham says Bray may be hiding somewhere in the vicinity of Camp Leach Road, but deputies have been unable to locate him so far.
“Right now, we don’t know where he is,” Vanlandingham said. “I’m sure deputies have checked every place they can think of multiple times. Since he’s been eluding the warrants from Pitt County since July of 2018, obviously we haven’t had any more luck locating him than they have.”
Beaufort County Crime Stoppers has issued two press releases, one in December and another this month, seeking the public’s help in locating Bray. Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $1,000 for any information leading to an arrest in this case and other crimes. Tips can be made anonymously at 252-974-6400.