Pawn shop
discovery leads police to church
break-in suspects
Police
are looking for Brandon Scott
Barnette. Photo courtesy Lincolnton
Police Department
BY JON
MAYHEW
December 20, 2011 – Two
people have been arrested and a third
is at large from a church break-in
which occurred earlier this month.
Lincolnton Police investigative Lt.
Brian Greene said Ralph Alexander
Hall of Bessemer City and Jennifer
Smith of Lincolnton were arrested and
charged with possession of stolen
property.
A third person, Brandon Scott
Barnette of Lincolnton, remains at
large as of Tuesday evening.
“On Thursday, December 15, some
of the electronics was recovered at a
pawn shop in Gastonia by detectives
Sgt. Matt Painter and Mark
Sain,” said Greene.
Police have warrants on Barnette for
breaking and entering a place of
worship, felony larceny and
possession of stolen goods.
The original incident was reported on
December 13, where electronics and a
safe containing money were taken in
the incident.
Greene said Brandon Barnette has a
long criminal history including a
number of breaking and enterings and
larcenies.
Barnette is described as
five-feet-eleven inches tall,
weighing 150 pounds with strawberry
blond hair. The suspect is known to
be in the Bessemer City or Dallas
areas of Gaston County.
Anyone with information is asked to
call Lincolnton Police at
704-736-8900 or Crimestoppers at
704-736-8909. Anonymous tips leading
to an arrest in any crime may be
eligible for a reward of up to
$1,000.
According to the Lincoln County
Sheriff’s Office Web site, both
Hall and Smith were released from
custody after posting bond.