LEWISTON WOODVILLE – A man is being sought in connection with a stabbing here early Friday morning.

One man was injured in the incident.

The Bertie County Sheriff’s Office was called to the Perdue plant between Lewiston and Kelford at approximately 1:20 a.m. Friday when a worker at the plant was reportedly stabbed.

“The victim was stabbed four times and also had cuts on his wrist,” Bertie County Sheriff John Holley reported.

The victim was identified as Anthony Beachem, who was on work release from Caledonia Correctional Institute in Tillery, according to the sheriff.

Beachem was transported to Roanoke-Chowan Hospital where he was treated for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Authorities are seeking Anthony Rashawn Rankins, 25, of 108 Cherry Farm Lane in Colerain in connection with the case. The Bertie County Sheriff’s Office has drawn warrants on Rankins for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Bertie County Sheriff’s Detective D.M. Outlaw said Rankins was to be considered armed and potentially dangerous and asked citizens not to approach him.

“They should call us if they see him and should considered him possibly dangerous,” Det. Outlaw stressed.

Sheriff Holley said anyone with information as to Rankins’ whereabouts should call the Sheriff’s Office at 794-5330 or call him personally at 724-1681.

“We have a citizenry in Bertie County that is helpful to us during our investigations and we’re asking them to continue that assistance with this case,” Sheriff Holley said. “We want to take this person off the streets and make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“As always, we want information, not names,” he added. “Anyone wanting to provide information does not have to worry about identifying themselves.”