The head of the state agency that oversees the Highway Patrol is calling for an investigation into missing records detailing former Gov. Mike Easley's travels. 

State Crime Control Secretary Reuben Young has requested an independent investigation of missing flight records and he has ordered the patrol captain involved in their disappearance to go back on administrative duty.

On Friday, the patrol confirmed that Capt. Alan Melvin had been returned to duty. This was after an internal inquiry, followed by an internal affairs investigation, determined that Melvin had not intended to remove or destroy the records.

Newly appointed patrol Commander Randy Glover had made that decision last month, but Young took Melvin off the job again Monday. Patrol spokesman Capt. Everett Clendenin said Young was concerned about new information that a patrol secretary had given to The News & Observer about the missing records.

The secretary assigned to the governor's security detail said in the internal inquiry that Melvin had told her to download flight records onto a computer disk and then give it to him. He told her to then delete the files to "free up space on the computer."

The secretary said in an interview with The N&O that she had never expressed a problem with the computer that would require the need to free up space.

Young "had not heard that information before," Clendenin said.

The computer was turned over to federal investigators in May. The patrol has found flight records for 2003 and 2004, but they have been unable to find them for 2005.

Republicans respond after the jump.

   Comments (2)

The state Highway Patrol said today that it has turned over to federal authorities a computer that once contained records regarding then Gov. Mike Easley's air travels that are now missing.

The computer had been assigned to Diane Bumgardner, a patrol secretary who works for the governor's security detail, Dan Kane reports.

On Friday, the patrol released an internal report of the missing records in which Bumgardner said the captain who oversaw the detail, Alan Melvin, had told her to download three years of flight records to a computer disk, give it to him and then delete the files from her computer.

More after the jump.

   Comments (0)

The legislature is trying to assure that drivers whose mangled cars are towed by companies called by the state Highway Patrol won't be paying more than others in needing a tow.

The House passed a bill today that insists tow companies who take part in a rotation list for the state Highway Patrol charge "reasonable rates," Mandy Locke reports. That charge should not be more than fees charged by companies not on the rotation list. The bill now returns to the Senate for a final vote.

"This is a big step in the right direction to make sure people are treated fairly on the side of the road when they are most vulnerable," said Capt. Everett Clendenin, spokesman for the state Highway Patrol.

Drivers have complained to the patrol for years that the towing companies troopers had called to help were gouging motorists. The patrol attempted to set price caps, but towing owners resisted.

The legislation will require that prices charged by those on the rotation be within 15 percent of a median price established for each region of the state. The median price will be determined based on estimates submitted by the companies.

State Highway Patrol Commander Walter J. Wilson Jr. has cancelled his retirement dinner.

Wilson sent a brief e-mail to Sgt. Clarence Stephens on Tuesday that offered little explanation for the cancellation. Stephens had sent notice to invitees the previous Friday.

"After further consideration, I have decided to cancel the retirement dinner on 24 July," Wilson wrote.

The dinner was supposed to have been held at the downtown Raleigh Sheraton at a cost of $28 per person.

Wilson announced last month that he was retiring to spend more time with his family after a year leading the 1,800 member patrol. Within days, Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed Lt. Col. Randy Glover as Wilson's successor. Glover takes over Aug. 1.

Last week, Wilson's brother-in-law, Michael Madras of Raleigh, said the retirement was not planned. He said that Wilson had been forced out so Perdue could replace him with someone she wanted. Perdue, Wilson, Glover and other officials have declined to discuss the change in leadership.

Wilson could not be reached. Patrol spokesman Capt. Everett Clendenin said Wilson will not be in the office much this month. He is using accrued vacation days to finish out his remaining time.

State Highway Patrol Capt. Alan Melvin headed up the special protection detail for Gov. Mike Easley for years, but is now assigned to an information technology job at the patrol.

That's why a reporter was curious to see Melvin show up earlier this year at the Raleigh home of Easley.

The date was Feb. 18 — a Wednesday — and Melvin pulled up around 2 p.m. He carried a package to the door with him. He left without it, reports Andy Curliss.

That date was the same day that the state Highway Patrol informed The News & Observer that it would begin providing flight records relating to Easley, saying some would be available the next day.

The newspaper had long sought the records and one result of their release was a two-part series published Saturday and Sunday. The report showed, in part, that the Highway Patrol has gaps in its records. For example, there are no records from 2005.

Back in February, at the time of Melvin's visit to the Easley home, the paper immediately wanted to talk with Melvin. Through a spokesman, Capt. Everett Clendenin, Melvin declined to speak numerous times. But at the request of the paper, Clendenin asked Melvin about his visit. Melvin denied being at the Easley home that day, according to Clendenin.

The schedule shows Melvin was on duty that day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is not clear when he took lunch.

The N&O then asked the commander of the patrol, Col. Walter Wilson, about the visit.

Wilson inquired and later reported back that Melvin said he had been there — and he was there to drop off some "personal items."

Last week, The N&O asked Wilson about the discrepancy in Melvin's stories. Patrol policy requires a member to be "truthful and complete in all written and oral communications, reports, and testimony."

Wilson said he didn't know why there was a difference. Moments later, Clendenin phoned the newspaper and put Melvin on the line.

Excerpts from the exchange, after the jump.

   Comments (11)

In traffic stops, state troopers have little choice but to issue a citation in clear-cut cases, a patrol spokesman said.

The Highway Patrol is conducting an internal investigation into why Trooper N.A. Mitchell did not cite state Rep. Cary Allred for driving 102 miles an hour in a 65 mile-an-hour zone. The patrol issued a citation days after reports emerged that Allred was stopped and let go with a warning. 

Capt. Everett Clendenin, a patrol spokesman, said issuing the citation was the "proper action." He said the investigation could take a month. The patrol's policy is to issue a citation or make an arrest in cases where a violation has clearly occurred.

Members shall issue a North Carolina Uniform Citation or arrest for all definite, clear-cut and substantial violations. Members shall not issue citations or make arrests for frivolous, technical, or borderline violations. Factors such as race, sex, economic standards, familial, political or fraternal affiliation shall not influence a member in any manner whatsoever. Every arrest made or citation issued shall be in accordance with North Carolina law and Patrol policy. Members who violate the law or Patrol directives may be subject to discipline by the Patrol.

Bryan Beatty gave an provocative answer about his future.

Asked by Dome through a spokesman for the N.C. Department of Crime Control whether he hoped to continue working under the new administration, Beatty did not say.

"He said he appreciates your interest, but that is between him and Gov.-elect (Beverly) Perdue," said Capt. Everett Clendenin of the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Beatty, who has been secretary of crime control since 2001, has long been rumored to be interested in staying. Of late, the speculation has been that he might take over the N.C. Department of Correction from retiring Secretary Theodis Beck.

He is the first current Cabinet member to explicitly refuse to answer the question since Dome began calling around this week.

Community groups looking for free space to hold events might want to contact the captain of the State Highway Patrol's Troop C headquarters on Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh.

On Saturday night, the patrol's captain, James Williams Jr. allowed one of his sergeants, Kenneth McCray, to use the headquarters' auditorium for an awards party for his son's Pop Warner football team, Dan Kane reports.

Patrol spokesman Capt. Everett Clendenin said patrol admistration didn't know about the event, and he was unaware of any other outside groups using the auditorium in the past.

But after checking into it, Clendenin said he could find nothing in the patrol's policy against it.

"It was up to the captain, and he approved it," Clendenin said.

The patrol would have to arrange for the gates of the Troop C facility to be open during weekends so community groups can use the auditorium. The gates are typically closed. Clendenin wasn't sure how the patrol would make sure that those who used the headquarters would be separated from patrol offices or equipment.

The auditorium comfortably holds 50 people and has a stage. Those who use it would have to clean up after themselves.

The final crowd estimate for a Barack Obama rally in Raleigh today: 25,000.

That's according to Capt. Everett Clendenin of the State Highway Patrol.

Update: Raleigh Police seconded that estimate and added that another 1,000 people were turned away from the event. 

An estimated 13,000 people are at a Barack Obama rally in downtown Raleigh.

The estimate came from the Secret Service around 11:30 a.m., so the figure may be as much as 15,000 by now, said Lt. Everett Clendenin of the N.C. State Highway Patrol.