THREE ARRESTED AFTER VANDALISM SPREE

Johnny Ray Cook (left), Clinton Andrew Barnes (center) and Hunter Ward White (right) all face vandalism and cruelty to animal charges. Photos Contributed/TCS

By Jon Mayhew

VALE -- Three people are in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center after county investigators say the trio rode around western Lincoln County, shooting mailboxes and vehicles Monday night.

The incidents began around 8 p.m., when the Lincoln County Communications Center began getting calls about mailboxes and vehicles being shot with a firearm.

The first report came from 6737 Lackey Road where a Volkswagen and a Chevrolet truck sustained about $1,000 worth of damage from gunshots.

Even a family pet was shot, according to investigators with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department. The owner -- at 1259 Bess Chapel Church Road -- rushed the animal to the vet but it couldn't be saved and had to be put to sleep.

Other reports included a mailbox damaged at 1782 Bess Chapel Church Road; a mailbox damaged at 1775 Bess Chapel Church Road; two vehicles, a Ford Explorer and a Ford Pickup truck, and vinyl siding on a house was damaged by gunshots at 856 Tower Road; an inflatable Christmas decoration was shot into and a column on a porch was hit by gunshots at 941 Tower Road; a Chrysler Pacifica was shot into at 877 Tower Road causing about $1,000 in damage; a Ford truck was damaged by gunshots at 1457 Shoal Road; and a Chevrolet truck was hit on the driver’s side door damaging the vehicle and windshield at 7592 Ed Willis Road.

Sheriff’s deputies stopped the suspect vehicle on Hull’s Grove Church Road and took the three suspects in custody. Deputies found numerous empty shotgun shell casings in the suspect vehicle and recovered firearms and ammunition.

Johnny Ray Cook, 21, of 1192 Hayworth Lane in Vale was charged with 13 misdemeanor counts of injury to property, one felony count of cruelty to animals, and 1 count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Clinton Andrew Barnes, 17, of 4712 Fargo Trail, Vale was charged with 13 counts of injury to property and one felony count of cruelty to animals.

Hunter Ward White, 18, 4715 Fargo Trail, Vale was charged with injury to personal property and cruelty to animals. He is under a $5,500 secured bond.

Bond for Barnes and Cook was set at $8,000 secured. All suspects are in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center.

Investigating officers were Deputies S. Hovis, R. Jeffries and Sgt. C. Stamper.