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AHOSKIE – A local man wanted since June for a rash of catalytic converter thefts is now behind bars.

On Wednesday morning, 19-year-old Davontae Quadell Boone of Como was taken into custody by the Ahoskie Police after he was found hiding in an apartment in town.

Ahoskie Police Chief Jimmy Asbell said Boone was armed with a handgun and was under a couch when officers found him.

Boone has a combined 95 outstanding arrest warrants from Bertie, Hertford, and Northampton counties. Those charges consisted of 35 counts of injury to property to obtain nonferrous metal, 53 counts of larceny of motor vehicle parts, one count of larceny of a motor vehicle, one count of breaking and entering and one count of larceny after breaking and entering.

Two charges were added upon his arrest on Wednesday: one count of possessing a weapon of mass destruction and one count of carrying a concealed weapon.

Boone’s bond was set at $435,500 secured. He was scheduled to answer those charges during an appearance on Friday in Hertford County Criminal District Court.

Asbell added that Shamae Monay Jacobs, 20, of Ahoskie, who lives at the residence that was searched on Wednesday, was charged and released on a citation for possession of marijuana paraphernalia and resist, delay and obstruct. Jacobs’s court appearance is Nov. 8 in Hertford County District Court.

“I want to thank my officers for their thoroughness and attention to detail while investigating the call for service, which enviably led to the arrest of Mr. Boone,” Asbell stated.

Boone also has a court date scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 5 in Bertie County. There he stands charged by the Bertie Sheriff’s Office with 10 counts of larceny of motor vehicle parts and four felony counts of injury to property by obtaining nonferrous metals. The Windsor Police charged Boone with 14 counts each of larceny of motor vehicle parts and injury to property by obtaining nonferrous metals.

The investigation into the rash of catalytic converter thefts began in September of last year in Northampton County. That investigation, initiated by Northampton Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Jimmy Barmer, also led to charges filed by law enforcement agencies in neighboring jurisdictions where a rash of catalytic converter thefts were reported.

During the course the nine-month investigation, numerous other cases involving catalytic converter thefts in Northampton County were reported. These cases involved approximately 11 victims, 25 catalytic converter thefts, and breaking and entering of a garage shop where numerous tools were stolen.

Additionally, in May of this year, Sgt. Barmer began working in conjunction with Detective B. Turner with Bertie County Sheriff’s Office on these theft cases. Detectives were able to connect theft cases with the same suspects. Detectives were able to further connect theft cases with neighboring agencies to include the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Ahoskie Police, Windsor Police, Rich Square Police, and Woodland Police.

After a joint investigation between all agencies, four suspects were identified in the catalytic converter theft ring.

On June 7, multiple local and state law enforcement agencies, to include the NC DMV License & Theft Bureau, joined with the Northampton Sheriff’s Office to conduct a search for suspects within Northampton County. Units were able to locate and arrest 35-year-old Macques Daye of Conway and 18-year-old Treyon Hill of Rich Square.

Daye was located hiding in a closet at a Woodland residence. Hill was located in Rich Square where he was stopped while riding a dirt bike.

Daye was charged with 25 felony counts of larceny of motor vehicle parts, 12 felony counts of injury to property while obtaining nonferrous metals, one felony count of breaking and entering, and one felony count of larceny. All of those charges were lodged via the Northampton Sheriff’s Office investigations.

Daye was also served outstanding warrants for probation violation absconder where he received no bond. Additionally he was served outstanding child support warrants from Northampton County.

Hill was served numerous outstanding warrants from the Northampton Sheriff’s Office, Woodland Police, Windsor Police, Ahoskie Police, and the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested for 19 total counts of felony larceny of motor vehicle parts, six felony counts of injury to property by obtaining nonferrous metals, one felony count of breaking and entering, and one felony count of larceny.

One suspect remains at large: 19-year-old Joshuh Fisher Jr.

He is wanted by the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office for 25 felony counts of larceny of motor vehicle parts, 12 felony counts of injury to property while obtaining nonferrous metals, one felony count of breaking and entering, and one felony count of larceny.

Fisher also has numerous outstanding warrants from the Woodland Police, Windsor Police, Ahoskie Police, and the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office. Warrants involving these investigations are pending from the Rich Square Police and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Fisher are encouraged to contact the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office or any of the above listed law enforcement agencies.