HAMLET — A spokesman for the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation says the agency confused cases when providing updates last week.
Chad Flowers, public information director for the SBI, told the RO on Sept. 8 that the agency is not investigating anything related to former Hamlet Police chief Dennis Brown — contrary to what was reported on Sept. 4.
However, Flowers said the SBI is looking into a request by District Attorney Jamie Adams regarding allegations of financial violations by the Richmond County government and Board of Commissioners related to Rockingham Speedway.
Those allegations were made by Hamlet City Manager John Terziu.
On Aug. 22, Terziu sent an email to Attorney General Jeff Jackson, members of the State Ethics Commission and state Rep. Ben Moss requesting “an immediate investigation into Richmond County’s allocation of $375,000 in public funds to Rockingham Speedway, as well as retaliatory actions taken against the City of Hamlet for advocating for essential public services.”
During a special meeting the previous day, commissioners approved in a 4-3 vote to cut a check to a vendor to help pay off the new SAFER barriers that were installed prior to the April NASCAR and ARCA races.
Chairman Rick Watkins had signed the agreement the Saturday before — prior to the announcement that NASCAR would return to the Rock in 2026 — conditional to a vote by the full board.
Commissioners Justin Dawkins, Jamie Gathings and Jason Gainey questioned the way it was handled — as did Terziu.
Michael Newman, who represented the county at the time — the board is set to approve a new attorney at Tuesday’s meeting — refuted the claims made by Terziu.
As for Brown, he was separated from the Hamlet Police Department in late July and no reason for his departure has yet been given.
At the time of the separation, Terziu cited ongoing internal and external investigations for not releasing more information.
An attorney for Brown issued a statement July 30 saying the lawman was "now in a position where he is forced to defend his integrity and against allegations that are false and baseless."
NOTE: This story has been updated to rephrase a sentence. 6:21 p.m. 9-8-25.
