STOLEN GUN LEADS TO TWO ARRESTS

By Jon Mayhew

Jeefrey Lee Nolen (left) and Brandi Houser (right) are jailed on drugs and weapons charges. Photos Contributed/TCS

LINCOLNTON -- A report of a stolen firearm leads to the arrest of a Turner Street couple on drugs and weapons charges.

Jeffrey Lee Nolen Jr., 23, and Brandi Houser, 28, both of 212 Turner Street, were arrested late last week after detectives found four heroin baloons and a stolen gun at their residencce.

Around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, detectives with the Lincolnton Police Department received word of a stolen firearm at one of the local pawnshops.

Authorities said the Raven .25-caliber pistol was reported stolen out of Virginia.

Nolen went to a pawnshop, wanting to purchase a magazine for the pistol.

When detectives first arrived at Nolen's residence, they weren't immediately let into the residence. The incident report at the police department indicated detectives could hear people running around the house.

Investigators went to the back door of the residence, where Nolen himself answered the door. As he was coming outside to talk with detectives, the investigators notied a heroin baloon inside the door.

The suspect quickly closed the door and detectives quickly opened the door back up to discover the heroin baloon was gone.

Nolen consented to a search of his residence. Later, detectives obtained a search warrant after noticing a bathroom vent was not screwed into the floor.

Authorities found four heroin baloons and the stolen pistol inside the bathroom vent.

Nolen and Houser were both charged with felony possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin; possession of a stolen firearm; and maintaining a dwelling for the sell and delivery of heroin.

Nolen was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

Bond for Nolen was set at $35,000 secured. Bond for Houser, meantime, was set at $15,000 secured. Both had first appearance hearings in Lincolnton district court on Friday.