Four People Facing Charges Following A Break-In On Salem Church Road


....... ....... .......
..... Stephanie Lynne Ratchford ... Roland Anthony Watts .......Johnny Eugene Day ........ David Wayne Williams ...
Staff Reports

LINCOLNTON – Officers responded to the break-in at 2579 Salem Church Road around 9:00 a.m. Tuesday after a neighbor reported the suspects cut a hole in a fence to gain access to the property. Deputy K. Paris reported the rear door of the unoccupied residence and rear door to a garage had been kicked open. Doors to a utility trailer and a semi-truck trailer had also been pried open and tools stolen.

Deputy Paris and Probation Officer F. L. Runyon went to Webb Scrap Metal near High Shoals looking for five cone shaped pieces of metal stolen in the break-in. The owner checked with employees and located the items in the cast iron section at the business. The account of the person who brought the items for sale was identified as belonging to Stephanie Ratchford of High Shoals. Employees stated that the woman and the other males brought the items in earlier in the day.

Officers went to the River Street address in High Shoals but could not locate the suspects. As they were leaving, the owner of the scrap metal business called and advised the suspects were back at the business with another load of metal. Deputy Paris stopped the suspect vehicle on the Philadelphia Church Road and placed Stephanie Lynne Ratchford, 34, of High Shoals and Roland Anthony Watts, 39, of Keever Dairy Road in custody. A third suspect, Johnny Eugene Day, 35, of High Shoals was apprehended a short time later by Gaston County Police and brought to the scene. The fourth suspect, David Wayne Williams, 50, of Gastonia Highway was taken into custody at a Lincoln Street address in High Shoals. Officers recovered more than $3,200 worth of stolen tools from the vehicle and the Lincoln Street home and returned them to the owner.

All four suspects are charged with one count each of felony breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods, injury to real property and one misdemeanor charge of injury to personal property. Ms Ratchford was also served Gaston County warrants charging her with possession of stolen goods and obtaining property by false pretense. She is under a $13,500 secured bond while the others are under $11,000 bonds each in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center.

Also assisting with the investigation were Gaston County Police, Lincoln County Sheriff’s detective Sally Dellinger and Lt. L. Caskey

Investigation into the incident is continuing and more charges could be filed.