Seven arrested, two sought in B&E case

Published 5:17 pm Thursday, November 6, 2008

AHOSKIE – An October 3 breaking and entering case in the Brantley’s Grove community has netted seven arrests and has local law enforcement officers seeking two additional individuals allegedly involved with the crime.

Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan reported the break-in occurred at a residence on Vann Road. During the robbery, suspects took 10 weapons, including a Browning 12-guage shotgun and a Winchester shotgun. They also made off with a safe and $1,000 in cash.

The Ahoskie Police Department was able to recover one of the weapons shortly after the incident and charged Jerry Vaughan of Brantley’s Road. Later, deputies with the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) recovered another weapon, a Browning 7mm rifle.

As the HCSO continued the investigation, more arrests were made, including Christopher Shane Parker, 19, of the Ahoskie-Cofield Road. He was charged with one count of breaking and entering, one count of felonious larceny, one count of possession of stolen property, 10 counts of larceny of a firearm and two counts of safe cracking.

Parker was placed in the Hertford County Detention Center (HCDC) under a $90,000 secured bond.

As a result of information received, Vaughan said his officers were able to obtain a search warrant, which resulted in the arrest of two additional people in the incident.

Charged were Thomas Jermaine Valentine, 27, and Nikkita Chennelle Edwards, 22, both of Bonner Bridge Road in Ahoskie. Valentine was placed in the HCDC under a $35,000 secured bond on charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, possession of stolen property, possession of counterfeit instruments, maintaining a dwelling to store a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Edwards was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was placed in the HCDC with a secured bond of $12,500.

Two more individuals were arrested Wednesday, according to Sheriff Vaughan. They also face charges in the breaking and entering case. They were Keven Kountrae Edwards, 22, of Johnny Mitchell Road in Ahoskie and Travis Lamont Cofield, 21, of Snipe Street in Ahoskie.

Each of the Ahoskie men were charged with 10 counts of larceny of a firearm, two counts of safe cracking, one count of breaking and entering, one count of felonious larceny and one count of possession of stolen property. Each was placed in the HCDC under a $90,000 secured bond.

On Thursday, another person wanted in connection with the case, 28-year-old Carlos M. Slade of East Baker Street in Ahoskie, was arrested by the Ahoskie Police Department. According to Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh, APD Sgt. Andres Snape and Officer Tyrone Ruffin were patrolling the Hayes and Mitchell Street area of town when they saw Slade walking down the street. Knowing he had an outstanding warrant on file by the HCSO, the two APD officers were able to make the arrest without incident.

Subsequent to that arrest, the APD officers searched Slade, finding a large plastic bag stuffed inside his pants. That bag contained a green, leafy substance thought to be marijuana.

The Ahoskie Police charged Slade with felonious possession with the intent to sale and deliver marijuana (122.5 grams) and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Those charges resulted in a $25,000 secured bond to go along with a $100,000 secured bond on charges by the HCSO – 10 counts of possession of stolen goods and one count of safe cracking.

Chief Fitzhugh, who praised his officer for being so observant, said this was the third drug charge lodged against Slade this year (arrests in April, October and November).

Meanwhile, Sheriff Vaughan said his officers were still seeking two individuals in connection with the B&E/larceny case.

The HCSO has drawn warrants for Brian Kenton Valentine, 23, of Vann Road of Ahoskie. Charges include 10 counts of larceny of a firearm, two counts of safe cracking, one count of breaking and entering, one count of felonious larceny and one count of possession of stolen property.

Also being sought is Cordy Alexander Powell, 50, of Powell Road in Eure. He is being sought on warrants for 10 counts of possession of stolen goods, one count of safe cracking and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

“We want anyone who has information as to the whereabouts of these two men to contact our department,” Vaughan said. “We are working diligently to get these weapons off the street and back to their rightful owners.”

The case was investigated by Captain Raymond Eure and Detective Brian Pearce of the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office. Vaughan said he appreciated not only their work, but that of other officers who were involved.

Those with information on the case can contact the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office by calling 358-7800.

(Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Editor Cal Bryant contributed to this story.)