Tips lead to arrests for school break-ins
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on September 29, 2004 1:58 PM
Three break-ins resulting in more than $30,000 in damages and stolen property at Spring Creek High School have been solved because of an anonymous call, say Goldsboro-Wayne County Crime Stoppers officials.
Two teen-agers were arrested by Wayne County sheriff's detectives and charged in juvenile petitions with six felony and 16 misdemeanor offenses.
The Crime Stoppers police coordinator, Sgt. Dot Ardes, told the agency's monthly board meeting that the confidential calls also helped officers solve four narcotics cases and a weapon case and led to the capture of seven fugitives.
The first break-in at Spring Creek High School occurred March 10. Eleven school buses were vandalized, and two were run into each other, officials said. After a lock was pried from a door, the canteen building was ransacked and snacks were stolen.
In the second break-in April 3, a television, a video cassette recorder, a VCR tape, four security cameras, two fire alarm control boxes and five door windows were damaged. A VCR tape was stolen.
Then on May 17, a security camera, four doors and computer equipment were damaged.
Two sheriff's detectives, Sgt. Rick Farfour and Mike Reid, followed up on the confidential information, and on May 23 they arrested the teens, ages 13 and 14.
Each was charged with three felony counts of breaking and entering, two felony counts of larceny, one felony count of possession of stolen goods, 14 misdemeanor counts of damage to personal property and two counts of damage to real property. One also was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, the school bus.
Drug arrest
An anonymous tip enabled authorities to arrest a 53-year-old woman on Aug. 5 and seize more than $360,000 worth of illegal drugs at a home on Shackleford Road, officers say.
Rosa Isela Sanchez was charged with trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in marijuana and maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of keeping and selling drugs. She was placed in the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $2 million secured bond.
Warrants also were obtained for her husband, David Sanchez, who was not home at the time of the raid.
Officers from the Goldsboro-Wayne County Drug Squad, Wayne County Sheriff's Office and the N.C. Revenue Department also seized 426 grams of cocaine, valued at $42,600; 127 pounds of marijuana, valued at $317,500; $4,000 in cash; vehicles, and equipment used to package drugs.
Fugitives caught
A teen wanted for a shooting July 15 was arrested July 20 on Virginia Street by Goldsboro police after an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers.
Kelvin Buffalo, 16, of Vanderbilt Circle was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill while inflicting serious injury. He was jailed in lieu of a $100,000 secured bond.
Buffalo was accused of shooting Rudolph V. Kelly, 39, of Emmaus Church Road, Dudley. Police said Kelly was trying to get his car back from a man to whom he had loaned it. Kelly was treated for his injuries and released from Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Another man wanted on two fugitive warrants and seven misdemeanor warrants was arrested Aug. 24 at a home on West Oak Street in the Westhaven community. Police had been told that the suspect might be asleep.
Valrico Fuller, 27, of East Spruce Street was jailed in lieu of an $82,000 secured bond.
Since the inception of Crime Stoppers in 1982, Executive Director Bill Troutman said, anonymous calls have helped authorities clear 6,589 cases with arrests, capture 1,119 fugitives, seize more than $7 million in illegal drugs and recover more than $2 million in stolen property.
Anyone with information on any crime in Wayne County was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 735-2255.
Callers may remain anonymous, and they may be eligible for cash rewards of up to $1,000, if their information leads to arrests in felony cases.