Public records
By Other
Published in News on August 25, 2004 1:58 PM
Church break-ins
Howard
A 43-year-old man from Kinston has been accused of breaking into churches, ramming a convenience store with a vehicle and stealing property, Wayne County Sheriff's Office reports say.
Johnny Lee Howard of Kinston was charged Tuesday with two felony counts each of breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen goods in the church break-ins. He also was charged with one count each of breaking and entering and larceny in the store break-in.
Howard was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of two secured bonds totaling $125,000.
Deputies had responded to an alarm at about 2:55 a.m. Aug. 10 at the Friendly Mart on N.C. 111 South and found that someone had rammed the store with a vehicle and then had stolen about $200 worth of property. Damage was estimated at $3,000.
After an investigation, detectives said they linked Howard to the church break-ins. About $2,000 worth of stolen property has been recovered.
Detectives Mike Reid and Sgt. Rick Farfour, the lead investigators, were assisted by Goldsboro police Investigator Seth Harris and other police officers in the arrest.
Seven teens charged
Seven teen-agers have been arrested by Wayne County sheriff's officers and charged with church and residential break-ins.
About $190 worth of property was stolen June 2 from Westwood United Methodist Church on U.S. 70 West, and $2,000 worth of property was stolen June 28 from a home on Carolina Circle. Some property has been recovered, detectives said.
The teens, five boys and two girls between 13 and 15 years old, were not identified because of their age.
Two were charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny in the church break-in. Six were charged with felony second-degree burglary of the home.
Four of the teens attend Rosewood Middle School. The others attend Eastern Wayne High School, Charles B. Aycock High and Belfast Academy.
Detective Sgt. Tony Morris said the parents have been helpful in the investigation.
Fugitive caught
A Goldsboro man wanted for numerous felony and misdemeanor charges was captured Tuesday by Goldsboro police after an anonymous call to Goldsboro-Wayne County Crime Stoppers.
Valrico Fuller, 27, of East Spruce Street was arrested by A-shift patrol Officers Wayne Cannucci, Peter Yeager, M. Taylor and K. Perry at a home on West Oak Street. Fuller was picked up on five outstanding arrest orders and a probation violation. He was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of an $82,000 secured bond.
Drug charges
Two people were arrested Tuesday by Goldsboro police and charged with felony drug offenses.
*Gina Lee Hill, 25, of Parkstown Road, LaGrange, was charged with possession of heroin, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possession with intent to sell and deliver prescribed medication. She was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $25,000 secured bond.
*William Murphy Vaughn, 24, of Woodside Circle was charged with possession of heroin and possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana. He also was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and a stoplight violation. He was jailed in lieu of a $25,000 secured bond.
Assault
Two men fought Tuesday with one man firing three gunshots into the ground Tuesday and then being stabbed by the other, a Wayne County sheriff's report said.
Robert Earl Toney, 35, of Fremont told deputies that the other man, Rey Sotelo Romero, 39, of LaGrange, had cursed him at a business in the 2300 block of U.S. 70 West.
The report said the fight happened like this:
The two fought, and Romero pulled a knife. Toney pulled a small handgun and fired three shots 20 yards from Romero. Toney put away the gun and the two resumed their fight. Romero then stabbed Toney twice.
Toney was released after emergency-room treatment. No charges have been filed.
Fleeing driver stopped
A driver fleeing from Goldsboro police was arrested before dawn today after his car rammed a power pole on North William Street, according to reports.
Scott Phillip Wibberley, 21, of Farmville was charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest, reckless driving, a stoplight violation and driving while impaired. He registered .16 percent blood-alcohol content, the report said. He was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $1,500 secured bond.
Wibberley was being pursued by police for a traffic infraction at about 1:20 a.m. He turned from the U.S. 70 bypass onto a ramp to North William Street, did not stop at a red light and rammed a power pole, police said.
Critical condition
A child who was hit by a car on Trade Street in Calypso was still in critical condition this morning at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville. Benjamin Parks Story, 8, of Trade Street, received a head injury Monday when he was hit by a car while trying to cross the street.
A victim of another accident in Duplin County, Lee Bowling Rector, 41, of Kenansville, was upgraded this morning to fair condition at Pitt Memorial Hospital. She was a passenger in one of several vehicles engaged in a pile-up Friday caused by a drunken driver who led law officers on a high-speed chase that ended in Beulaville.
Investigations
An estimated $5,167 worth of sports apparel, footwear, a mink coat and other items was stolen before dawn today from a home in the 700 block of Prince Avenue, according to a Goldsboro police report.
The resident, Nathan L. Jackson, reported the loss of 34 college jerseys, six NBA jerseys, eight pairs of boots, nine hats, 20 pairs of shoes, a watch, video-game equipment, the coat and other items. The thief had forced open a window to get inside, the report said.
Police also are investigating these reports:
*A lawn mower, a television and a Christmas tree were stolen between after a lock was cut from a rental storage unit at 2403 N. William St. The renter, William Henry Barfield of Dudley, said his property was worth $895.
*Two duffel bags, empty bank bags and clothing were stolen between Monday night and Tuesday after a vehicle window was broken in the 500 block of Eastgate Drive. The owner, Hope R. McCullough of Clayton, estimated the property's value at $70 and damage at $300.
*Someone threw a piece of concrete through a door between Tuesday and dawn today and broke into the Goldsboro Mini-Mart at 601 W. Ash St. An undetermined amount of money was taken.
Thefts
Wayne County sheriff's deputies are investigating these reports:
*Four 18-inch chrome rims and four tires were stolen after a lock was cut on a barn door in the 100 block of Tom's Place, sheriff's deputies said. The resident, Patrick Kelly Garnett, put a $5,000 value on the property.
*A work bench, a tiller, a tool box, an air compressor and a typewriter were stolen between Monday and Tuesday after a lock was cut on a rental storage unit on Riverbend Road, deputies said. The renter, Stephen McKinley Owl of Pikeville, said his property was worth $1,700.
Missing
A 15-year-old Goldsboro girl has been reported missing to police by relatives. Jennifer L. Berry of 1401 Clingman St. was described as black, 5-feet-5 and 210 pounds with black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.
When Ms. Berry was seen last at about 6:30 p.m. Monday, she was wearing a black shirt, black jeans and white sneakers. Anyone with information on her location was asked to call police at 705-6572.