FREMONT, NC – A Fremont man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he nearly collided head-on with a police vehicle during a multi-agency impaired driving enforcement operation in northern Wayne County.
According to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, members of the Sheriff’s Office DWI Task Force participated in a multi-agency saturation patrol on June 25, 2026, in the northern portion of Wayne County, just outside the municipal limits of Pikeville and Fremont. The operation included assistance from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Fremont Police Department, and the Pikeville Police Department.
During the enforcement initiative, a Fremont Police Department patrol vehicle was nearly struck head-on by an oncoming vehicle. After avoiding the collision, the officer conducted a traffic stop and requested assistance from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office DWI Task Force after observing signs that the driver may have been impaired.
Following the investigation, deputies arrested Antonio Marquette Barnes, 41, of Bryant Street in Fremont.
Barnes was charged with:
- Driving While Impaired (DWI)
- Possession of Illegal Narcotics
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Expired Registration
- Failure to Maintain Lane Control
Authorities said Barnes was transported to the Wayne County Detention Center, where he was placed under a no bond.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said the arrest underscores the importance of coordinated traffic enforcement efforts designed to keep impaired drivers off the road. Officials noted that saturation patrols and other traffic safety initiatives are regularly conducted in partnership with local law enforcement agencies to enhance public safety and reduce crashes caused by impaired driving throughout Wayne County.
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