Newport City Hall Broken Into And Damaged

On March 14, 2022, at approximately 6:07 AM, Newport Police Officers were in the lower level of City Hall, and heard the fire alarm sound. Officers checked the City Hall main floor and noticed the smell of cigarette smoke. Upon checking further, officers found a person, later identified as Nicole Carson, of Tidewater standing at the front door of City Hall. Carson was holding the exterior door of the City Hall open and smoking a cigarette. When Carson saw the officers, she ran from the area.

Officers checked the remainder of City Hall and found several items damaged, including a wooden sculpture, bench, tile floor, dishes, furniture, screen, and books. Officers located a heavy smoke smell and found evidence of burnt items in the employee break room. Officers also discovered many items damaged had been thrown through the break room window.

Newport Fire Department arrived to assist and officers left City Hall to locate Carson. She was located a few blocks away and detained.

Carson reportedly admitted to accessing City Hall by using a random number on the keypad at the main entrance. She indicated the code she used opened the locked doors and she went into City Hall, which was closed and locked, where she admitted to damaging items and lighting items on fire. Carson further admitted to pulling the fire alarm at City Hall, and fleeing once she saw officers. She was taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail for Burglary 2nd Degree, Disorderly Conduct, Reckless Burning, and Criminal Mischief 1st Degree.