New technology leads to arrest

RALEIGH, N.C. (WAVY) - A new criminal information system is being credited, in part, for the arrest of a man accused of arson and the attempted murder of his wife and children.

The Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Automated Data Services system (CJLEADS) compiles offender information from various criminal justice databases into one place. This includes warrants, jail records, court records, parole status and even DMV information.

An emissions technician contacted DMV's License and Theft inspectors to get approval for an employee to operate emissions inspection equipment. Following a CJLEADS search on his name, Demsey Whitaker, 37, was arrested.

According to Marge Howell, Whitaker was wanted for domestic violence and worthless check warrants.

Howell said Whitaker fled the state of Florida and lived in Henderson, N.C. after the alleged crimes.

CJLEADS was created after the murders of Duke graduate student Abhijit Mahato in Jan. 2008 and UNC student Eve Carson .