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Man arrested for breaking into a Lenoir church

The man was quickly located by officers, arrested and charged.
Credit: Lenoir Police Department

LENOIR, N.C. — One man received a $30,000 secured bond after breaking and entering into a church, officials say.

On January 3 just after 9 a.m., Lenoir Police responded to an alarm at the South Lenoir Church of God in the 1700 block of Hickory Boulevard, Lenoir.

Once they arrived, officers located an open door. While searching, officers realized one of the offices of the church had been broken into, potentially by force. 

Officers reviewed security camera footae and were able to locate the suspect and identify his vehicle -- a black Ford F-150 with a camper shell on the back.

A narcotics officer with the Lenoir Police Department located the vehicle in a Wal-Mart parking lot located in the 900 block of Blowing Rock Boulevard in Lenoir. Officers located the suspect, Clayton Eugene Darr.

Darr was later arrested and charged with breaking and entering into a place of worship. He then received a $30,000 secured bond and an initial court date of January 4. 

Investigators are still working to determine if anything was stolen from within the church, but damage to the interior door has been valued at $250. 

“It is sad when anybody is victimized by another person, but it is especially concerning when individuals decide to victimize a place of worship," Chief Brent Phelps said.

The chief said he was proud of the diligent and efficient work of the responding officers, calling the quick location as "an example of professional police work.”

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