Three men were arrested on felony drug charges and a woman who received a drug citation at her residence later found herself subject to a home invasion.
The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office received a tip from the Kinston Department of Public Safety around 9 p.m. Sunday of a large amount of marijuana in the 2800 block of Cherry Lane. When LCSO Sgt. Tommy Grady and Lt. Alana Liberty talked with occupants of the residence, they were given permission to search, according to an LCSO release.
Narcotics detectives arrived at the location and after a search, found five pounds of marijuana allegedly belonging to Travis Dean Layden and Enrique Luna Jr. Investigators found a straw filled with hydrocodone in the room of Michael Shawn Schwarz.
Also seized were cash, grinders, scales, baggies, phones and a bong.
Layden, 22, received a $5,000 bond for felony possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, felony maintaining a place for controlled substances and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Luna, 21, picked up a $25,000 bond for felony possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, felony maintaining a place for controlled substances and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Schwarz, 23, took a $5,000 bond for felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, felony maintaining a place for controlled substances and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Resident Samantha Cappola received a citation for simple possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Cappola was at the residence around 3:17 a.m. Monday when there was a knock on the door, and three men allegedly forced their way into the residence, with one carrying a knife. The LCSO release states the men demanded money and drugs, but left with $200 and the woman’s mobile phone.
A 911 call from a neighbor led deputies to track down a silver car in the area. Grady initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of U.S. 70 and U.S. 258 North, and Cappola was able to identify the men were those who entered her residence.
“My deputies had a long night but it was very productive. We have six people in jail for either possessing and selling dope or robbing someone of their dope and money,” Lenoir County Sheriff Chris Hill said in a statement.
He continued, “I do not think I have ever 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.”
John Austin Crowley, 21; Kevin Anthony Hanson, 20; and Andrew Johnathan Weaver, 19 — all of Goldsboro — were arrested and charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree kidnapping and armed robbery.
Additionally, a 9mm handgun was discovered in the vehicle.
The men were placed into the Lenoir County Detention Center with additional charges pending and $125,000 bonds, each.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @WolfeReports.