AULANDER – A Saturday morning home invasion has left an Aulander man behind bars.

Bertie County Sheriff John Holley said a man and his child were sitting in their home at approximately 8 a.m. Saturday when a male subject burst into the home with a gun.

The assailant took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene, but it didn’t take long for investigators to discover his identity.

“We received some help from those in the community,” Sheriff Holley said. “Their assistance made us able to make an arrest in approximately two hours.”

Bertie County Sheriff’s Detective Harris Williams was joined by Deputies Naomi Wiggins and Dan Flores in arresting Brian O’Neal Powell, 23, of Bell Street in Aulander.

He was taken into custody in his home and placed in the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail under a $75,000 secured bond. He is facing charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon and felonious breaking and entering.

He will make his first court appearance Wednesday.

Sheriff Holley said he was thankful for the assistance of the citizens in bringing Powell to justice.

“I appreciate the citizens who were able to help us identify the perpetrator,” Sheriff Holley said. “I am also thankful to my investigators for their quick work on this case.”

Sheriff Holley said he also appreciated the other agencies who provided assistance during the investigation.