JACKSON – The magistrate’s office here was a busy place Friday and Saturday nights.

The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office conducted a special saturated patrol operation on June 20 and 21, leading to a number of arrests and charges over the two nights.

Law enforcement officers served three outstanding warrants:

Lionel Maurice Martin, 30, of Severn was served an outstanding order for arrest;

Demonte Dequan Thomas, 24, of Conway was arrested for an outstanding probation violation and on a warrant for harassing phone calls; and

Champ Julius Blackwell II, 26, of Henrico was arrested for an outstanding child support warrant.

The beefed-up number of patrols throughout the county also resulted in citations for driving with a revoked license, no operator license, open containers, seat belt violations, speeding, and driving while impaired.

The operation also netted drugs and a gun. Marques Najee Banks, 21, of Rich Square was stopped for a traffic violation. During the stop, Banks attempted to flee on foot, but was chased down and apprehended by law enforcement officers a short distance away.

According to Northampton County Sheriff’s Captain Chuck Hasty, as Banks was in the process of fleeing he threw down several items, which were recovered by law enforcement.

Banks was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, failing to stop for stop sign and resisting/delaying/obstructing an officer. He was given a $16,000 bond and a court date of June 23.

Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Garysburg Police Department, Jackson Police Department, Ahoskie Police Department, Seaboard Police Department, North Carolina Highway Patrol and North Carolina Department of Public Safety Division of Prisons assisted the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office during this operation.

“With the cooperation of these agencies the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office worked to keep the citizens of Northampton County safe,” said Northampton Sheriff Jack Smith. “When agencies work together we can be successful in getting criminals, guns and drugs off the streets.  We will keep working together with the various agencies to get things accomplished.  These types of operation and other types will continue to be conducted in Northampton County.”