Cartersville Police Crack Burglary, Entering Auto Crime Spree

Photo credit: Patch file

Cartersville police have arrested several suspects they believe are possibly connected to numerous entering auto and burglary incidents in and around the city.

Officers made contact with five subjects on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at Courtesy Inn, which is at 2335 Highway 411 in Cartersville, the agency said in a press release.

While officers detained the suspects and secured the room, a search warrant was obtained and executed.

Those arrested — Joseph Bradley Payne, 28, of Kingston and Cartersville residents Bessie Mae Lowe, 26, Ashley Dawn Haynes, 25, Brandon Chase Godfrey, 28, and Nathan Emery Howard, 26, — were all charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Additionally, Haynes was charged with theft by receiving stolen property while Howard was also charged with theft by receiving and obstruction of officers.

Along with the arrests, Cartersville police said illegal narcotics and a gun were also recovered from the hotel room.

Police Chief Thomas Culpepper said information developed during the agency’s investigation that revealed “that the majority of these thefts were related to a ring of subjects who were selling or trading the stolen items for methamphetamine and/or heroin.”

During the course of the investigation, information on the suspects also led detectives to execute other search warrants.

Those operations resulted in the recovery of a gun stolen from Polk County, a large assortment of jewelry, additional drugs and other property and evidence relating to active motor vehicle theft, burglary and entering auto cases in Cartersville, Bartow County, Floyd County, Polk County, Kennesaw and possibly other areas.

“Our investigators are coordinating with the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office and other surrounding agencies to return the stolen property to the rightful owners,” the chief said. ”I am very proud of the way our officers stayed diligent in the investigation of these various incidents and were able to tie them together as they did. It was truly a team effort.”

Culpepper added the investigation remains active.