Man arrested after reportedly threatening Pitt County DSS offices

The man arrested for threatening mass violence against Pitt County’s social services department had previous dealings with the agency, according to the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office.

Charles Barrett, 44, was arrested Monday and charged with one count of communicating threats of mass violence on educational property after he reportedly called the social services office at 1717 W. Fifth St. and threatened to shoot up the building and blow it up early that day.

The location also houses the administrative offices of Pitt County Schools, the sheriff’s office said.

“Blowing up and/or shooting one has a realistic impact on the other and the citizens who may be there,” said Sgt. Lee Darnell, sheriff’s office public relations and information officer. “The evidence was presented to a magistrate, who determined probable cause that statute had been violated.”

Barrett was jailed at the Pitt County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

The sheriff’s office said Barrett had dealings with social services but couldn’t provide details.

Pitt County Manager Janis Gallagher said confidentiality rules prevent county officials from giving details or even confirming if an individual is receiving services from DSS.

Both the sheriff’s office and Gallagher said there are no plans to revise security protocols for county offices.

Social services employs ENC Protection Group to provide security at its West Fifth Street location and the human services building located in Government Circle, Gallagher said. The group also transports at-risk juveniles for social services.

“We have ongoing staff training on our safety policies and we will continue to present that ongoing staff training. I do not anticipate any other security measures,” Gallagher said.

“We believe at this time those arrangements are sufficient and worked as anticipated in face of the threat that was made at the Department of Social Services,” she said. “It is not atypical for the Department of Social Services to receive threats of varying degrees given the nature of the work they do. But Pitt County takes every threat very, very seriously.”

Several years ago, the county installed locked security doors that must be unlocked by staff before members of the public can access office areas of county buildings.

The county’s safety protocols state 911 is called when a threat is made so the appropriate law enforcement agency is notified. Gallagher said law enforcement determines what actions need to be taken.

“If a county building has an incident we are quick to respond and will take action accordingly, as we will with any citizen or business in the county,” Darnell said.

The sheriff’s office said when Barrett was identified as the suspect and an arrest warrant was issued, they went to his last known address but he wasn’t there.

“A CrimeStoppers post was made on social media requesting assistance from the public in locating him for arrest,” the sheriff’s office said. “Deputies subsequently located Barrett at a private business. He was taken into custody without incident.”

Once law enforcement was contacted, the county’s risk manager didn’t see any need for further action in the remainder of the county office building, Gallagher said. No evaluations or further action was taken within social services offices.

“The safety of our employees is our top priority and always is our top priority. In this particular situation everything functioned and progressed as it should have according to our safety plan,” Gallagher said.