BREAK-IN SUSPECTS FOILED

Jessie James Gibble (left), Travis Gene Hopper (center), and John Eric Yelton (right) were arrested Friday night, shortly after breaking into the Country Corner convenience store on East Highway 150. Photos Contributed/TCS

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Quick thinking by an off-duty fireman and city police foiled a trio's break-in to a Lincoln County convenience store.

Friday night, the fireman heard the burglar alarm go off at the Country Corner convenience store, across from Forest Lawn Cemetery, after 10 p.m. He gave the Lincoln County Communications Center a description of the vehicle the suspects were in, who in turn relayed the information to police and sheriff's deputies.

Shortly after the break-in, city police officer Richard Taylor spotted the suspect vehicle traveling past Lithia Inn Road. Officer Taylor initiated a traffic stop at Kentucky Fried Chicken on East Main.

The three suspects were taken into custody shortly after the traffic stop.

They are identified as Jessie James Gibbs, 37; Travis Gene Hopper, 28; and John Eric Yelton, 28.

All three were charged wtih felony breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen property. Authorities found several cartons of cigarettes inside the vehicle.

Gibbs was taken to jail under a $20,000 secured bond, while Hopper was jailed under a $15,000 secured bond. Yelton was jailed under a $9,500 secured bond.