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Three men are facing charges after a break in the case involving a string of break-ins and thefts from cars. Two of those vehicles, officials say, belonged to Mecklenburg County law enforcement officers who lived in Union County.
Officials with the Union County Sheriff’s Office say the break came when police equipment came up for sale on a local classifieds website.
Investigators said they set up a meeting with 39-year-old William Patrick Curry Jr., of Monroe, under the guise of being interested in buying the police equipment.
Curry was arrested at the meeting, and further investigation led officials to charge two others: 18-year-old Matthew Aaron Johnson of Indian Trail and Joshua Charles Cornell, 21, of Monroe.
Among the recovered stolen goods: riot gear, other police equipment and a laptop belonging to Porter Ridge High School.
Cornell is charged with four counts of breaking and entering motor vehicle, three counts of felony larceny, two counts of felony possession of stolen goods, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and two counts of misdemeanor larceny. Cornell is also charged with the theft of one officer’s duty weapon.
Johnson faces felony possession of stolen goods, receiving stolen goods, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and obtaining property on false pretenses.
Curry is charged with one count of possession of stolen goods, a felony. WCNC-TV
