Suspect charged in two VFD robberies
By John Joyce
Published in News on June 7, 2015 1:50 AM
Full Size
Daniel Trey Pearce
A man the Wayne County Sheriff's Office says is responsible for a motorcycle theft and breaking into at least two county volunteer fire departments has been charged, according to a press release.
Daniel Trey Pearce, 24, of 5702 Sanderson Road, is charged with two counts each of felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and felony possession of stolen goods. He is currently being held in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $36,000 secured bond.
The charges stem from the stolen motorcycle and break-ins at the Arrington and Dudley volunteer fire departments in late May. A third break-in -- at the Antioch Volunteer Fire Department -- is still being investigated.
"We don't have anything at this time that we can tie him to it with, but we are still investigating that one," Maj. Tom Effler said.
Pearce also faces breaking and entering and larceny charges filed by the Goldsboro Police Department, which lists his address as 311 S. Audubon Ave.
The county charges stem from an investigation that began with a report May 23 of a stolen 2007 Kawasaki motorcycle valued at $3,000, which was taken from a storage shed during the night.
On May 27, a break-in was discovered at the Dudley Volunteer Fire Department. Officials reported $2,000 in cash stolen from the building
Then, on the evening of May 28, the Arrington Volunteer Fire Department and Dudley Volunteer Fire Department were also broken into. The Arrington break-in resulted in the theft of $4,900 and a lawn mower, as well as significant damage to several doors.
By Friday, both break-ins had been reported to the Sheriff's Office, by which time it had been discovered that the same suspect, Pearce, appeared on security camera footage at both departments.
According to the press release, community cooperation and tips called in to Crime Stoppers further supported the evidence pointing to Pearce.
Pearce was brought to the sheriff's annex, where he was ultimately arrested.
The Goldsboro Police Department then charged Pearce in connection with a break-in at the offices of Cox Trucking, 1101 S. George St.