Arrests made in string of church burglaries
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Untayus Lovell Brown
Quyntarvis Diandrew Whetstone
Some of the items stolen from churches throughout Coosa County, primarily musical equipment, were recovered from Montgomery and Opelika pawn shops. Photo by Christa Jennings
By Christa Jennings
Arrests were made last week in connection to a string of church burglaries that occurred throughout Coosa County.
Chief Deputy Scott Hammond reported that from May 2 through June 13 several reports were taken of numerous churches being broken into. The communities where churches were hit included Cottage Grove, Kellyton, Socapatoy, Richville, and Equality.
After reviewing the reports, the Sheriff’s Office Investigations division contacted all of the victims to get descriptions of the stolen items. Investigators found many of the stolen items identified by the churches at pawn shops in Montgomery and Opelika.
After further investigation, including going to each pawn shop and looking at the items, investigators confirmed that they were stolen from some of the burglarized churches.
During the process, investigators also identified potential suspects who pawned the items. After the investigation and conducting interviews, two arrests were made connected to the cases.
On June 26, 33-year-old Untayus Lovell Brown and 28-year-old Quyntarvis Diandrew Whetstone, both of Alexander City, were arrested and each charged with three counts of third-degree burglary, one count of first-degree theft of property, third-degree theft of property, and third-degree criminal mischief.
Those six charges against Brown and Whetstone related to three of the burglarized churches.
Additionally, on June 27, Brown and Whetstone were each additionally charged with another count of third-degree burglary and third-degree theft of property connected to a fourth church.
As of press time both Brown and Whetstone remained in custody at the Coosa County Jail awaiting trial. Total bonds for each of them related to the church burglaries and those eight charges were set at $66,500.
Some of the stolen property has been recovered. The cases remain under investigation.
As reported June 14, Whetstone was already in custody after being arrested June 10 for burglary, theft and arson charges related to a Kellyton residential burglary.
Anyone who suspects or observes illegal activity is encouraged to report it to the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office at 256-377-4922 or online at www.coosacountyso.org. Anonymous tips are also welcome.
