The Roanoke Rapids Police Department reported there were vending machine break-ins over the weekend allegedly tied to Damien Purnell Artis after investigation by Officer Chris Babb and Detective Bobby Martin.
Babb encountered Artis, of Aurelian Springs Road in Roanoke Rapids, on Julian R. Allsbrook Highway with an open container of alcohol Monday morning.
When Babb questioned Artis, evidence was allegedly found linking him to more vending machine break-ins.
The officers, with assistance from Sergeant Paul Ward of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, were able to recover some of the money and charge Artis with 10 counts of breaking and entering of a coin operated machine and 10 counts of damage to property.
Artis was jailed on $10,000 bond and has a September 18 court date.
Along with Artis, police charged Larry Donnell Joyner Jr., 31, of Weldon, with a count each of breaking into a coin operated machine and damage to property.
Joyner received a $1,000 bond.
