Larson, Weddle Arrested in Jefferson

A recent break-in at the Dollar Mart, located at 209 North Main Street in Jefferson, led to the arrests of two Jefferson men. According to Chief D. L. Neaves of the Jefferson Police Department, 36-year-old Chad Stephen Weddle and 24-year-old Clifford John Larson were arrested on Monday, Nov. 30, and both men were charged with felony breaking and entering and larceny after the Nov. 8 break-in at the Dollar Mart.

Weddle and Larson have both been released. Their next court date on the charges is set for Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010.

Neaves also reported two other recent break-ins. The first occurred at the Hardee's restaurant, located at 799 East Main Street in Jefferson, on the night of Wednesday, Nov. 25. Neaves said suspects "entered by breaking the glass on the side door." The break-in was discovered at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26, and Neaves confirmed that a "small amount of cash" was taken.

There was also a break-in at the Ashe Animal Clinic, located at 605 East Main Street in Jefferson, on Saturday, Nov. 28. Neaves said suspects "gained entry by prying open the back door" and took a small amount of cash.

Neaves said that the department is "still working on several leads" in the Hardee's and Ashe Animal Clinic incidents, along with several other recent break-ins. He said it would be "premature to say" whether or not Larson and Weddle were involved in any of the other break-ins, but noted that "we're looking at them on the others."

Anyone with information related to any of the cases can contact the Jefferson Police Department at (336) 846-5529.

Williams Reports "Rash" of Church Break-ins

Churches have become the target for some thieves in Ashe County, as Sheriff James Williams recently reported a "rash of church break-ins" in recent weeks. Williams said there have been eight churches broken into over the past five months including "five in the last couple weeks.

Williams said there were incidents at the following churches: Friendship Baptist Church in Jefferson, Peace Haven Community Church in Lansing, Buffalo Baptist Church in West Jefferson, Mission Home Baptist Church in Fleetwood. Warrensville Seventh Day Adventists, Mount Paddy Church in West Jefferson, Long Branch Baptist Church in Lansing and Bald Mountain Church in West Jefferson.

Williams said that on the night of Sunday, Dec. 6, suspects were breaking into vehicles outside of Bald Mountain Church while services were being held inside the church.

The suspects have been taking "mostly sound equipment and musical instruments" from the churches, according to Williams. He noted that the incidents are "probably" related, "especially the ones in the last two weeks.

"There seems to be, just about every night or two or three, they're hitting a church somewhere," said Williams. "We're trying to keep an eye on it the best we can, but we're asking the public and the neighborhoods around the churches to keep an eye out. If they see suspicious vehicles or activity around a church, call us and let us know."

Williams noted that suspicious behavior includes seeing "anybody, either on foot or in a vehicle, around the churches at times when you wouldn't expect somebody to be there. Anything that looks suspicious, [such as] lights on in the church at night when there shouldn't be anybody there or vehicles sitting in the parking lot or dropping people off.

Anyone with information regarding the church break-ins can contact the Ashe County Sheriff's Department at (336) 846-5600.