Four Burglary Suspects Arrested

10/27/09 Kenneth Willard Hooker of 1611 Tempting Church Rd. Sanford reported he came home at approximately 11:30 AM and found 2 white males burglarizing his home, which then fled the scene. Hooker reported the suspects removed a diamond ring and a cell phone taken from the home. Deputies arrived soon after and were able to apprehended the suspects.
Charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods were:

• William Anthony Suggs (21) W/M of 2805 Deep River Rd. Sanford; $15,000 secured bond.
  
• Robert Theodore Wilson Jr. (22) W/M of 612 Denada Path, Sanford, $20,000 secured bond.
  
• Allen Aldridge (23) W/M of 511 N. Horner Blvd. Sanford, $15,000 secured bond.
  
• Tiffany Maria Pritt (19) W/F of 511 N. Horner Blvd. Sanford, $12,000 secured bond

Crime Alert! Avent Ferry Road Residents

10/26/09 Terry Leon Rabon of 1212 Avents Ferry Rd. Sanford, reported he came home at approximately 11:20 AM and found the rear door to his residence opened. Rabon investigated and found a white male burglarizing his home. The intruder confronted Rabon and threatened him with a firearm. Rabon retreated and called 911. The suspect was described as a white male, approximately 30 yrs old, wearing a toboggan and was driving and older model white Ford Explorer. Anyone having information on this case is urged to call the Sheriff’s Office.

Shooting Trial Over

Story as posted on Sanford Herald's website.

GREENSBORO — A federal jury on Tuesday awarded former Army sergeant Stephen Phelps at least $750,000 in his suit against the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and the former deputy — now the chief deputy of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office — who shot him and another soldier during a 2002 military training exercise. As the verdict was read, Phelps showed no emotion. Former deputy Randall Butler, now the second in command under Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter, closed his eyes. Phelps said afterward: “I was happy that the truth finally came out.”The jury rendered the verdict about 9:45 p.m., after more than two hours of deliberation. Minutes before the verdict, jury members clarified with the judge the rules on awarding compensatory damages.After the verdict, lawyers sparred over whether the total damages were $750,000 or $850,000. The jury awarded $650,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 or $200,000 in punitive damages.Phelps’ lawyer, Carlos Mahoney, had sought $1.2 million.Army 1st Lt. Tallas Tomeny died in the same incident that left Phelps severely injured. Tomeny’s estate settled out of court.Phelps and Tomeny had been taking part in Robin Sage, an exercise that trains soldiers for Special Forces.For the training, soldiers simulate infiltration of a foreign nation. Phelps and Charles Leiber, a civilian who was playing the role of an adviser, testified that they thought when Butler stopped their vehicle it was part of the exercise.Butler had argued that the men were acting suspiciously in an area that had experienced a lot burglaries. Butler also said he saw two machine guns and that Tomeny had told Phelps to kill him.On Tuesday, juror members said they did not believe Butler’s claims about the guns or the order to kill.Greg Harris of Hoke County said he found Phelps and Leiber more believable than Butler.“Mr. Leiber’s testimony was pretty strong,” he said. “And Phelps — (the lawyers) couldn’t get him crossed up. His story stayed the same throughout his testimony.”Harris said Butler’s story changed.Juror Christy Atkinson of Sanford said she thought about her own family when she made her decision.After the judge dismissed the jury, Butler slowly returned to his seat. Moore County Sheriff Lane Carter said neither he nor Butler would have any comment.Butler’s current boss, though, had praise for him and noted that Butler had been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing several years ago.“When this incident occurred in 2002, Randall Butler was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by the SBI, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and the military,” Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter said. “This ruling was in a civil case and it doesn’t change the findings in 2002. (Butler) has done a great job as chief deputy here and this does not change his role at Lee County Sheriff’s Office.”Phelps said that for years, he and other members of the Special Forces community were unhappy that only the one side of the story was out in the media. But he said he kept quiet until he could get his day in court.He added that the verdict was not about the money.Butler shot Phelps in his arm and chest. The former soldier spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and months recovering. He has said he still suffers from the effects of the shooting.“Twelve people found that what I said and Mr. Leiber said was the truth,” Phelps said.— The Fayetteville Observer and Herald reporter Gordon Anderson contributed to this report.

Miami Man Jailed for Rape, Robbery and $46,000.00 Worth of Cocaine In Vehicle

Quick thinking on the Sanford PD's part, their dispatch staff sent out a broadcast to be on the look out a suspect that had reportly forced a woman into her vehicle around 4 p.m. Saturday as she exited the Kangaroo store at 2219 Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1), robbing and raping her.

A Lee County deputy was patrolling the area and spotted the suspect and attempted to stop him at US1 near Chris Cole Road. The suspect fled from the vehicle into a wooded area, however was apprehended quickly.

After searching the vehicle, deputies discovered approximately one half-pound ($46,000.00 worth) of Cocaine.

Sanford PD arrested Pedro (nmn) Noveron, 28, of 1519 SW 4th Street, Miami, Florida and charged him with first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Deputies charged the suspect with Trafficking Cocaine, maintaining a vehicle to store drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia after being found in possession of 230 grams of Cocaine. He was placed in the Lee County Jail under $400,000.00 secured bond.

1 + lbs of Cocaine seized in the Northview Area

An undercover operation on 10-21-2009 by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division has resulted in the arrest of one person and the seizure of ½ Kilogram of Cocaine (approx 1.1 lbs). Agents arrested Saul (no middle name) Mendiola, 29, of 54 Brookstone Drive, Cameron, in the Northview area of Lee County after being found in possession of 535 grams of Cocaine.

Mendiola was charged with trafficking Cocaine, maintaining a vehicle to keep/store drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in the Lee County Jail under $500,000.00 secured bond. The estimated potential street value of the seized drugs is $107,000.00.

Raid on Thunder Lane nets 214 grams of Cocaine

On 10-20-2009, members of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division conducted a search at 52 Thunder Lane, Sanford, NC. As a result of the search, agents seized 214 grams of Cocaine and items of drug paraphernalia. Agents arrested Abel Nunez Perez, 28, of 757 Raymack Drive, Lillington, and charged him with trafficking Cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Perez, and illegal alien from Mexico, was placed in the Lee County Jail under $200,000.00 secured bond. A second suspect is also being sought in the case. The seized drugs have an estimated potential street value of $42,800.00.

Deputy Assualted on Hidden Pond Lane

10/18/09 @ 12:45 am deputies received a call at 427 Hidden Pond to an assault in progress. Upon arrival they encountered the suspect, Kevin Scott Stone (31) W/M of 387 Hidden Pond Ln. Sanford. The deputy on scene was assaulted by Stone while attempting to take him into custody. Jessica Batts Stone of 387 Hidden Pond Ln. Sanford reported she and Stone had gotten into a domestic dispute at their home at 387 Hidden Pond Ln. Jessica Stone reported she had been assaulted and strangled by her husband Kevin Stone and had escaped and ran to 427 Hidden Pond for help. Elbert Pierce of 427 Hidden Pond Ln. allowed Jessica Stone in his home to use his phone when Kevin Stone broke in his front door. When Stone entered 427 Hidden Pond, Pierce struck Stone with a crow bar. Stone was charged with assault on a female, assault by strangulation, false imprisonment, communicating threats, simple assault, 1st degree burglary, malicious conduct by an officer, assault inflicting serious injury on a law enforcement officer, resisting law enforcement officer, forcible trespassing and injury to real property; Stone was held under no bond.

Ray Ave Resident Charged

On 10-16-2009, members of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division executed a search warrant at 909 Ray Ave., Sanford, which resulted in the arrest of Christopher Lynn Elgin, 35, of the home and charged him with sell and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (Oxycodone), maintaining a dwelling to keep and store drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released under $25,000.00 unsecured bond.

Sanford Police Seize Pot and Homemade Liquor

Kudos to the Patrol staff and Drug unit with Sanford PD this week for their work seizing nearly 2 lbs of marijuana and six gallons of homemade liquor from a house located at 2641 Fayetteville Street in Sanford. The marijuana was worth an estimated $8,460 and the liquor had an estimated worth of $1,536.

Following the raid, two residents of the home turned themselves in. Andrae Lopez Kelly, 48, and Angela Odetta Kelly, 46, both of 2641 Fayetteville St. were charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana, maintaining a dwelling for drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of non tax paid liquor.

Great Job Gang!

"Although she was a moonshiners daughter, I loved her still"

Three Burglary Suspects Apprehended

10/12/09 @ 12:14 pm, Mary Huggins Helms of 3922 Rocky Fork Ch. Rd. Sanford reported someone entered her home and removed a jewelry box and a briefcase. At 12:29 PM Deputies received a call of a burglar alarm at 739 McPherson Rd. Sanford. While enroute to McPherson Rd. a key holder to the home called 911 and reported they had witnessed 3 black males exiting the home and one had pointed a pistol at them.

The caller reported they were following the suspect in a white vehicle at a safe distance and continued on the phone till deputies got into the area. The white vehicle fled down a driveway on Chris Cole Rd. where they abandoned the vehicle. A perimeter was set up and a K9 Deputy was called in.

All three suspects were apprehended in the area. The investigation revealed the 3 had also broke into the home at 3922 Rocky Fork Church Rd. Charged w/ 2 cts of breaking and entering, 1 ct of felony larceny, 1 ct of felony possession of stolen goods, 2 cts of felony conspiracy and possession of a stolen firearm was: Christopher Jay Hill (20) B/M of 4135 Oak Crest St. Sanford, Reginald Martinez Greene Jr. (20) B/M of 164 Lightwood Ln. Sanford and Garron Taufeeq Sparks (16) B/M of 175 Coats St. Southern Pines NC.

Birch Street resident arrested

On 10-13-2009, agents of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division executed a search warrant at 410 Birch Street, Sanford. As a result of the search, Teonj Jamelle Adams, 28, of the home was arrested after being found in possession of 13 bags of Marijuana. Adams was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver Marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling to keep or store drugs. Adams was released under $2500.00 bond.

16 Year Old Dies After House Break-In

Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a home break-in where a 16-year-old suspect died from injuries sustained while trying to flee the scene.

Oscar Lorenzo Perez, 16, of 1528 Greenwood Road; Antonio Ramiro Jaimes, 17, of 25 Willow Circle; and two 14-year-olds broke into a home Saturday at 1810 San Lee Drive. When the home’s alarm went off, the suspects tried to flee. Perez attempted to escape through a window and was cut by glass.

At approximately 2:10 p.m., deputies and paramedics arrived at the home. Perez was transported to Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, where he later died. He was found to have shards of glass in his chest.

Perez was a former student of Southern Lee High School and worked at a McDonald's restaurant, a family member said.

Jaimes and the two other suspects were taken into custody. They will be charged with breaking and entering.

Video from WRAL here.

44 grams of Meth and 3 Arrests in Sting

A surveillance operation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division on 10-7-2009 has resulted in the arrest of three persons and the seizure of 44 grams of crystal Methamphetamine and items of drug paraphernalia. Richard James Stone, 37, of 82 Stone Hill Lane, Sanford, Bjorn Kristain Reams, 24, of 1068 Calvary Church Rd, Sanford (Harnett County), and Robert Shawn Melby, 35, of 148 Holly Hills Rd, Sanford, were all arrested as part of the investigation. Melby was charged with conspiracy to traffic Methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia and was placed in the Lee County jail under $50,000 secured bond. Reams was charged with trafficking Methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic Methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in the Lee County Jail under $100,000.00 secured bond. Stone was charged with Conspiracy to traffic Methamphetamine and was placed in the Lee County Jail under $10,000.00 secured bond. The arrest and incident took place in the parking lot of a local business on Broadway Road.

Surveillance Ops Nets Plants + Arrests

A surveillance operation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division on 10-5-2009 has resulted in the arrest of two persons including a 14 year old Juvenile and the seizure of a Marijuana plant and several grams of processed Marijuana and items of paraphernalia. Timothy Andrew Collins, 19, of 883 Lanier Farm Road, Sanford, and a 14 year old juvenile were charged with manufacturing Marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after agents discovered the pair cultivating a Marijuana plant in a wooded area off Bruce Coggins road. Collins was released under $1000.00 bond and the juvenile was released to his parents and will be petitioned to juvenile authorities.

Sheriff's Office Approved To Receive $500,000.00

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has been approved to receive more than $500,000 in grant funding from the federal stimulus package passed in February. The funds, if approved by the Lee County Board of Commissioners on Monday, will pay for two additional deputies, two additional jail personnel, a mobile command center, and technological upgrades to the county jail.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is the only agency in the Carolinas to receive any of the
$55 million allocated for rural law enforcement agencies in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to Lt. David Prevatte. Equipment upgrades will include fingerprint technology in the jail, a camera system which will allow suspects to make their first court appearances by video, and upgrades to the department’s crime scene investigation laboratory. None of the grants requires any local match.

Another grant was announced Friday and isn’t yet on the agenda for the board of commissioners to approve. The county jail has been approved for a $23,000 grant from the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which helps offset the cost of enforcing federal immigration laws for local agencies.