Four held in connection with break-in, larceny

Local News

October 21, 2009

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Four men are in custody for allegedly being involved in an Oct. 10 robbery of a convenience store.

Three Sharpsburg teenagers, Christopher Marquez Richardson, 18, of 435 Hillsdale Drive, Byron Dale Whitaker, 18, of 800 Hilltop Drive, and Tony Larenza Clark, 18, of 108 Armstrong Drive, as well as Demetrius Matelius Barnes, 20, of Rocky Mount, were each charged with breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen goods in the incident.

Edgecombe County Sheriff James Knight said his office was contacted at 1:18 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, about "several suspicious persons in the area of the 9200 block of County Line Road outside of Sharpsburg." When a deputy responded to the area, Knight said he found "the front window broken out" of Mi Pais Grocery Store and Pool Room.

The owner was notified, and Knight said he reported the cash register, as well as beer, tobacco products and lighters were missing. Unopened beer cans and tobacco products were found in the area, as well as the cash register, Knight added.

The sheriff also said there was "blood evidence" from the suspects at the scene, and K-9 Tigo was used to track the suspects.

The four adults were placed in the Edgecombe County Detention Center under $5,000 secured bonds.

Knight said his office is also seeking a petition for charges in the break-in against a juvenile.