A couple wanted for more than 70 counts of metal theft across Halifax County were apprehended in Portsmouth, Virginia, Saturday, according to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.
As of today, Mark Peterson Jr. and Ashlie Baggett have not been returned to Halifax County and are still awaiting extradition, according to detention center records and Major Anzell Harris.
Harris said that through a thorough investigation, information was obtained that the two were living in the Portsmouth area.
HCSO Detective Sergeant B. Edmonson obtained warrants for the pair, and they were entered into a national database.
Extensive surveillance was conducted, and the two were apprehended with assistance from the HCSO Criminal Investigation Division.
The sheriff’s office reported last June that the thefts amounted to some 28,000 feet of copper wire, which caused an estimated $103,000 in damages.
Three power companies were victims in the cases.
“We want to thank the Portsmouth Police Department for their assistance in apprehending these two subjects,” Sheriff Tyree Davis said.
Scotland Neck arrests
Harris also reported that on Friday around 8:30 p.m., the HCSO, along with local and federal agencies, executed a search warrant at a residence in the McDowell Road area of Scotland Neck.
The search warrant was the result of numerous shooting calls in the area over the past several weeks that the HCSO CID is investigating. There were also citizen complaints of drug, gun, and gang activity that centered on the residence.
Upon executing the search warrant, officers were met with numerous people outside the residence who fled on foot. Several of them were apprehended after brief foot chases.
A search of the property and individuals resulted in three firearms being found—one in a yard and two in the possession of individuals at the residence.
Officers also located marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, MDMA, hydrocodone, and paraphernalia.
One of the men arrested, Sha’born Hill, was allegedly in possession of 31 Hydrocodone tablets, 20 grams of crack, two 1-gram vials of cocaine, 9.2 ounces of marijuana, and 118 grams of synthetic marijuana, according to the warrant.
Hill faces the following charges:
Possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver a Schedule III controlled substance
Two counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance
Two counts of felony possession of cocaine
Possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance
Felony possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance
Simple possession of a Schedule III controlled substance
Resisting a public officer
Possession of drug paraphernalia
He received a $190,000 secured bond but was not listed in detention center records today. He, like others charged, is scheduled for a June 9 district court date.
Also arrested were:
Denzell McDaniel: Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He remains in the detention center on a $30,000 secured bond.
Kelvin Williams: Resisting a public officer and carrying a concealed handgun.
A’zhavion Wiggins: Resisting a public officer.
De’Marreon Powell: Resisting a public officer.
The HCSO CID, the Halifax Regional Drug and Gang Task Force, the HCSO Special Response Team, the Scotland Neck Police Department, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted.
“The sheriff’s office extends its appreciation to Chief A. Holland and his staff at the Scotland Neck Police Department for their assistance with the investigation and search warrant,” Davis said. “He and his staff are tremendous assets to the sheriff’s office and citizens of Scotland Neck.”
