Cops: Break-in suspects caught while smoking pot down by the river
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on January 27, 2017 12:13 PM
Gurganus
NOrris
Authorities arrested two men Thursday morning accused of breaking into a business eight days earlier and stealing multiple items.
Deputies reportedly came across the men smoking marijuana inside cars parked near a boat ramp on Bill Lane Boulevard and connected them to the crime, a news release said.
According to the release from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, the owner of Wayne Auto Salvage reported to deputies on Jan. 18, that the business had been broken into.
The owner reviewed video surveillance footage and discovered two men had broken into the salvage business and stole tools and car radios.
The tools were taken from a building at the business and the car radios were taken from inside vehicles on the property.
The two men then allegedly used a vehicle parked on the premises to take the stolen items to an undisclosed location to be put into one of the men's vehicle.
According to the release, the men then left the car they had used in gear and put something on the accelerator in an attempt to leave it depressed so the car would run into a pond on the property.
Det. Sgt. Rick Farfour was able to identify one of the two men from the security camera footage as Joseph Gurganus Jr., 23, and secure warrants on him for the break-in.
Thursday, around 10:41 a.m., deputy Kaitlin Martinez and Cpl. Billy Rivenbark were patrolling the area near a boat ramp on Bill Lane Boulevard and reportedly came across two parked cars with a strong odor of marijuana coming from them.
Martinez and Rivenbark made contact with the men and detained them because marijuana was present, the release said. A search of the vehicles turned up drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Both Gurganus and Noah Louis Norris, 20, were detained and taken to the sheriff's annex to be questioned.
After being questioned about the break-in at Wayne Auto Salvage, Gurganus and Norris were charged for the crime.
Gurganus is charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, three counts of felony breaking into a motor vehicle, three counts of larceny, two counts of possession of stolen goods, felony breaking and entering a building, felony larceny, felony possession of stolen goods, felony attempted larceny, two counts of first-degree trespassing and injury to personal property.
He was given a $20,000 secured bond for the drug and firearm charges, and an additional $35,000 secured bond for the charges related to the break-in.
Norris is charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, three counts of felony breaking into a motor vehicle, three counts larceny, two counts of possession of stolen goods, felony breaking and entering a building, felony larceny, felony possession of stolen goods, felony attempted larceny, two counts of first-degree trespassing and injury to personal property.
Norris was given a $7,500 secured bond on the drug-related charges, and an additional $25,000 secured bond for the charges related to the break-in.