A complaint of stolen money in Gaston led to drug selling charges for the woman who made the complaint to the town’s police department last month.

Corporal W.C. Smith said Friday the arrests of Shaquetta Ja’Ke Penney, 24, and her boyfriend, David I. Robinson, 40, started when Penney complained to Gaston police money she kept in a baby wipes box was stolen by a friend.

The friend said he never stole the money, that he just went to Penney’s house to buy marijuana from her.That led to an investigation by Smith and deputies from the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office at Butler Drive which is in the county.

Smith said Seaboard Police Chief George Reed and his dog Blitz also accompanied deputies Jimmy Pair and Jeff Allen to the house.

There the dog alerted on numerous items throughout the house: A baby wipes box with dollar bills wrapped by rubber bands with the scent of marijuana on it, a quantity of marijuana in a plastic bag on a nightstand, laundry in the living room where money with the scent of marijuana was on it, $5 bills in a pair of pants with the scent of marijuana on it and a box where marijuana had been stored. 

The officers also seized digital scales and plastic bags.

Penney and Robinson were both charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance. They were arrested on August 31.