Deputy solves his own case
By John Joyce
Published in News on September 22, 2015 1:46 PM
An observant deputy with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office closed his own breaking and entering case Sunday after taking the report earlier in his shift.
Deputy Brandon Foss arrested three suspects, recovered the stolen property and -- with the assistance of the Sheriff's Office Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Team, K-9 Team, A-Shift patrol and Criminal Investigations Division -- seized 20.8 grams of cocaine and three grams of heroin.
"It was very good observation on his part," Maj. Tom Effler said.
According to a press release issued Monday, Foss took a report in the north end of the county Sunday detailing the break-in and theft of a four-wheeler valued at $2,900. After taking the report, Foss returned to his patrol duties in the southern end of the county.
While on patrol, Foss noticed a vehicle towing a four-wheeler matching the description of the one on the report he had just taken. Foss executed a traffic stop and called for backup.
During the traffic stop, three suspects were identified and the drugs were discovered. After a brief investigation, all three suspects were charged.
The driver, Peter Marsh Wachter Jr., 42, 2509 Pine Needles Drive, is charged with first-degree burglary, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, possession of cocaine, maintaining a vehicle for the use of controlled substance and driving while license revoked. Wachter has been placed in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $150,000 secured bond.
Both passengers, Travis Jerome Darden, 34, of Faison, and Willie Jones Summerlin III, 38, streets of Wayne County, are each also charged with first-degree burglary, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods and breaking and entering a motor vehicle.
Darden faces additional charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and with resisting arrest. Summerlin faces additional charges of obtaining property by false pretenses and misdemeanor larceny, both out of Wilson County.
Darden and Summerlin's bonds are set at $150,000 and $160,000 secured, respectively.
The measurements of cocaine and heroin fell short of minimum weight standards that would have allowed for the suspects to be charged with trafficking, Effler said.
"But it was still a good hit," he said.
Both he and Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce commended Foss for his diligence and his following proper procedure.
"We are so proud of him and of the whole shift. They did a great job all weekend," he said. "It was a situation where we were in the right place at the right time."