Do You Know Who To Contact For Arrest Records And A Warrant Search In Surry?
Upon visiting the Surry County Sheriff’s Department, seeking the usual warrants list and police blotter information, I was met with an unexpected omission. Aside from the most wanted list, the repository was barren.
In an era where transparency is both expected and, in many cases, routine, law enforcement agencies commonly provide public access to arrest logs or, at the very least, warrant information online. The absence of such openness here is not merely an oversight; it reflects a broader ambivalence toward the public’s right to know.
The lack of data on their portal has led me to conclude that a warrant search or a criminal check through this agency won’t be possible unless you visit their office. That said, they may not just hand over their warrants list or even the arrest report you need because, in NC, it is the judiciary that handles requests for disclosure of criminal court records. Please look at what you can expect from both these agencies when you approach them for arrest records and a warrant check.
How do I get the arrest log from the police of Surry County?
- Since I have already mentioned the most wanted list above, let me get that one out of the way first. You will find this information on Surry county sheriff website. Before you get all set to compile a warrant list from this data, let me warn you that there is no information on this page from time to time.
Plus, only if your subject has been involved in some brutal criminal acts will he/she find a place in this list. So, if you are looking for a background check on a regular individual who has had a few run-ins with the law, this information won’t be of much help.
- You can get some information on active warrants and a few arrest mugshots from the FB page of the Sheriff’s Dept. This is available at the Surry county sheriff’s Facebook page. Once again, the data is limited to severe felonies.
- You can go to the Sheriff’s office at 218 North Main Street, Dobson, North Carolina 27017. Talk to a deputy from the administrative section of the agency to seek help for your arrest inquiry. The County Jail can be contacted at the same location, so you can also find information on persons who have been recently detained or are awaiting trial.
What other options do I have to access criminal court records or get a criminal check done in Surry?
- If you are looking for criminal court records, check the website of NC courts here. With a bit of browsing, you can find the citations in your subject’s name and the court calendars, including those for your area’s criminal courts. This particular feature is available here. You can use it to know if your person of interest intends to make a trip to the court very soon (think the coming day or two here).
- For all you folks who won’t settle for anything less than an elaborate and full-scale offender search, contacting the office of the Clerk of Court is the only option. You can send your warrant search request by mail to PO Box 345, Dobson, NC 27017, or you can file it in person by going to 201 E. Kapp Street, Dobson, NC 27017. The service is not free, so that you will end up short of $25, but you will get a certified copy of the arrest report you need in return.
How do you get information about Surry County warrants and arrests over the phone? (Updated in 2024)
Sheriff’s Office
- The Sheriff’s Office is the main law enforcement agency of Surry County, so call them at (336)401-8900 for general crime-related details.
- Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Tuesday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Detainees are taken to the Surry County Jail, so call the facility at (336)401-8975 to find out about recent arrests.
- The Magistrate’s Court issues most criminal warrants, so contact the agency at
- (336) 386-3719/(336) 789-3300 for a warrant search.
- The District Attorney’s Office provides help to crime victims, so contact the agency at 336-386-8178 for victim’s assistance.
- The Clerk of Court handles all judicial records, so contact the agency at (336) 386-3700 for a case search.
Emergency Services
Here are the key hotline numbers related to police and crime in Surry County, North Carolina:
- Emergency: 911
- Non-Emergency 24-Hour Line: (336) 374-3000
Police Departments
- Elkin Police Department: (336) 794-6475
- Mount Airy Police Department: (336) 786-3535
- Pilot Mountain Police Department: (336) 368-4725
Crime Reporting
- Crimestoppers: (336) 786-4000
Victim Services
- Surry County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis Line: (336) 356-2014
Additional Resources
- Mental Health Crisis Line: 1-888-235-HOPE (4673)
- Opioid Response: (336) 374-9012
The Surry County Sheriff’s Office is located at 218 North Main Street, Dobson, NC 27017. For non-emergency situations requiring law enforcement assistance, residents can call the 24-hour non-emergency number. The Crimestoppers hotline allows people to report crime tips anonymously. Victim support services are available through the domestic violence and sexual assault crisis line.
Crime Statistics of Surry County
While specific crime rates for Surry County are not provided, we can look at data for Mount Airy, the largest city in Surry County, as an indicator:
- The overall crime rate in Mount Airy is 30 crimes per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the national average.
- Chance of becoming a victim of crime in Mount Airy: 1 in 33
- Violent crime rate: 4 per 1,000 inhabitants
- Property crime rate: 27 per 1,000 inhabitants
Types of Crimes
The most common types of crimes in Mount Airy include:
- Theft: 17.61 per 1,000 residents
- Burglary: 6.31 per 1,000 residents
- Assault: 2.83 per 1,000 residents
- Motor vehicle theft: 2.73 per 1,000 residents
Other police departments in the county include Mount Airy PD, Elkin PD, and Pilot Mountain PD.
The data suggests crime rates in Surry County’s largest city are somewhat higher than national averages, with property crimes being more common than violent crimes. The county has systems in place for anonymous crime reporting and multiple law enforcement agencies serving the area.
In 2018, the crime rate of Surry County dropped to half the annual average of 2017. Around 1800 complaints/100,000 residents were filed with the local police. Of these, approximately 1720 were cases of property crimes while the remaining 90 were instances of violent crime.
* Figures are average per 100,000 residents.