CHINA GROVE, N.C. -- Police seized more than two dozen weapons, including rifles, handguns, shotguns and a sword, from a China Grove home Friday afternoon.
Investigators also took a variety of drugs from the house at 16 Walnut Street.
The homeowner, 59-year-old Jimmy Rodic Brown, was arrested and charged with possession of stolen firearms, drug possession with intent to distribute, trafficking drugs, and maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances.
He told NewsChannel 36 he didn't know the weapons were stolen as he was transported to jail Friday.
A judge ordered him held with a $1.5 million dollar bond.
Another man was also arrested, and then released because of a medical issue. Police expect to re-issue warrants for his arrest after he is healthy enough to go to jail.
Police in China Grove say this raid is part of a broader effort in cooperation with the Landis Police Department nearby. "Our county has had multiple break-ins--houses, outbuildings--over several months. This is a joint effort...to try to clear our break-ins," said Detective David Walther of the China Grove Police Department.
Together with Rowan County, the departments have executed seven searches in all and recovered thousands of dollars in stolen goods. Several people have been arrested.
Marge Boll and her husband Charlie were burglarized last month. "It was over $500 dollars worth of tools that were stolen," Marge said. She was thrilled to get the call to come to the China Grove police station and recover her property.
"It was a very large amount..I was very surprised that there was that much stolen in the area," she said.
Investigators have tracked one of the guns seized from the Walnut Street resident to Florida where it was stolen in 1997. They have not traced the other weapons yet, but say they have information that many of the guns are stolen property.
