too cold to go bike at 2 am riding without a ski cap....

At about 2:45 a.m. this morning, Monday November 25, patrol officers from the Field Operations Bureau spotted 16-year old Haseen Branch of Greenville on Clifton Street with two bicycles near the intersection of Evans St. and Arlington Blvd.   Officers stopped Branch to investigate why he was out with two bicycles at such a late hour and in below-freezing weather.

Officers then saw a black book bag about 25 feet away.  Further investigation found the bag contained a pair of bolt cutters, eight ski caps, and a sweater with all the sales tags still affixed.

Officers then spotted 21-year old Debracey Barnes as Barnes was coming out of the Kangaroo store near the intersection.  Upon seeing the police officers, Barnes fled across Arlington Blvd toward Commerce Street. The officers were unable to pursure Barnes, but alerted other officers nearby.

A police dog was called to the scene and backtracked from where the officers encountered Branch to a storage unit behind Gordon's Golf & Ski at 207 E. Arlington Blvd.  The storage unit had been burglarized, and the ski caps and sweater belonged to the business.

Police arrested Haseen Branch, and charged him with one count each of Felony Breaking & Entering, Larceny after Breaking & Entering, Felony Possession of Burglary tools, and Felony Conspiracy.  Branch was jailed under a $50,000 secured bond.

Detectives responded to the call, and after further investigation obtained similar arrest warrants against Debracey Barnes, 21-years old, of Greenville.  Barnes is a repeat offender, well known to law enforcement.  He remained at large this morning.  Anyone with information on Barnes should call Greenville Police at 329-4315.