The following is a press release from the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office. Free Press Crime Reporter Wes Wolfe is currently working on a full story:
On December 8 around 9 p.m., Lenoir County Sheriff’s deputies received a tip from the Kinston Department of Public Safety that a person was in possession of a large amount of marijuana at 2832 Cherry Lane, Kinston.
At about 10:15 p.m., Sgt. Tommy Grady and Lt. Alana Liberty conducted a knock and talk at the home. LCSO narcotics detectives were dispatched to the scene, and deputies seized about five pounds of marijuana from a closet belonging to Travis Layden and roommate Enrique Luna Jr. During the search a straw filled with hydrocodone was located in Michael Schwarz’s room.
All three persons were present along with a female named Samantha Cappola. Cappola was charged with simple possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Schwarz was charged with possession of schedule II and felony maintaining a dwelling for schedule II. Layden was charged with PWISD marijuana, felony maintaining a dwelling for marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Luna was charged with PWISD marijuana, felony maintaining a dwelling for marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Also seized were U.S. currency, grinders, scales, baggies, phones, and a bong.
Travis Layden’s, age 22 of Cherry Lane, bond was $5,000
Michael Shawn Schwarz, age 23, of Cherry Lane, bond was $5,000
Enrique D. Luna Jr., age 21 of Cherry Lane, bond was $25,000
Samantha Cappola was charged on a citation and released
On December 9, at 3:17 a.m. a robbery was reported at the same address. The victim (Samantha Cappola) was not arrested but still in the home when deputies departed. She stated that someone knocked on the front door of the home after deputies left the home. She thought it was her neighbor, but when she opened the door three white males pushed their way into the home. One of the subjects was armed with a knife. The subjects demanded money and drugs. The subjects stole approximately two hundred dollars in cash and the victim’s cell phone. Apparently the suspects did not know that the Sheriff’s Office had just seized narcotics and money from the home.
A person living in the community noticed the vehicle at the home called 911. The suspects left the home on Cherry Lane and a vehicle description was given out to deputies. The vehicle was described as a silver car. Sgt. Tommy Grady spotted a vehicle matching that description near Hwy 70 and 258 North. A traffic stop was initiated. Sgt. Grady identified the three occupants as:
Kevin Hanson
Bond: 125K
112 Valley View Dr
Goldsboro NC Age: 20
John Crowley
Bond: 125K
109 River Bluff Dr
Goldsboro NC
Age: 21
Andrew Weaver
Bond: 125K
116 Springbank Rd
Goldsboro NC
Age: 19
The victim (Samantha Cappola) was brought to the scene where a “show-up” was performed. The victim was able to positively identify all three suspects. The three individuals were arrested and charged with first degree burglary, 2nd degree kidnapping and armed robbery. A Hi point 9mm was seized from inside the vehicle. Additional charges are pending.
Sheriff Chris Hill:
“My deputies had a long night but it was very productive. We have (6) people in jail for either possessing and selling dope or robbing someone of their dope and money. I do not think I have every had a case where we searched a home, seized drugs and made arrests and then robbers arrive at the same home minutes later to steal drugs and money that we have already seized. On top of all of that, they got caught moments after the crime. In this case, we beat them to the punch.”