Man Caught At The Scene Of Break-In, JCSO Says

SMITHFIELD – A Smithfield man was taken into custody after he was reportedly found at the scene of a burglary in the Brogden community.

Deputies with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call just after 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, October 5, reporting a burglary in progress on Bonnie Avenue. When officers arrived, the suspect had already been confronted by the victim, who reportedly caught the suspect removing a cabinet and piece of plywood, valued at $70, from a barn behind the home.

The suspect, identified as 21-year-old John Stanley Creech of W.C. Braswell Road, Smithfield, was still on the property when deputies arrived. In addition to the attempted theft from the barn, investigators say Creech also entered the victim’s pickup truck. The victim was reportedly acquainted with the suspect, however Stanley did not have permission to be on the property.

Officers allegedly found drug paraphernalia and a small amount of suspected fentanyl in Creech’s possession at the time of his arrest.

Creech was charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle, felony possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was booked into the Johnston County Detention Center under a $60,000 secured bond.