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Henderson fire officials estimate that this vacant house at 717 Highland Ave. suffered $30,000 in damage to the structure and the contents in a suspicious fire Monday. The estimated pre-fire value was $57,000.
Henderson fire officials estimate that this vacant house at 717 Highland Ave. suffered $30,000 in damage to the structure and the contents in a suspicious fire Monday. The estimated pre-fire value was $57,000.

A thirst for free beer early Saturday may prove costly for three Vance County men, according to Henderson police reports.

The three men were arrested about 5:45 a.m. by Officer D.G. Currin III, shortly after two 18-packs of beer were stolen from Rose Mart at the corner of North Cooper Drive and Dabney Drive and nearly two hours after a six-pack was swiped from Snackers at Dabney Drive and Parham Street.

The men are accused of taking the beer, worth about $30 in all, while driving around in a 1979 Ford Mustang.

Arnold H. Thomas Jr., 20, of 181 Townsville Landing Road and Daniel M. Culler, 26, of 321 W. Andrews Ave. are charged in both thefts. Carl S. Heatherly, 23, of 275 Stewart Road is charged only in the Snackers crime.

In the Rose Mart theft, involving Budweiser and Bud Light and investigated by Officer C.M. Wilkerson, Thomas is charged with two misdemeanor counts of larceny and two misdemeanor counts of possession of stolen goods, and Culler is charged with two misdemeanor counts of possession of stolen goods.

In the Snackers theft, involving Miller High Life and investigated by Officer D.R. Tharrington, Thomas is accused of two more counts of larceny and two counts of possession of stolen goods, and Culler and Heatherly each are charged with two counts of possession of stolen goods. All of the charges are misdemeanors.

All three men are due in court May 3. Thomas was jailed in lieu of bonds totaling $3,000. Culler’s bonds total $2,000. Heatherly’s bond is $1,000.

Among other crimes in the city over the weekend:

* A possible arson was investigated at a vacant brick house at 717 Highland Ave. shortly before 4 a.m. Monday.

Fire Department records show that firefighters with Engines 1 and 3 and Rescue 1 from Station 2 arrived at the house at 3:58 a.m., a minute after receiving the call. They had the fire under control in 17 minutes and remained on the scene until 5:17 a.m.

The fire was limited to a central room in the house but produced heavy smoke, according to firefighter Brad Knutson’s report. The front door and windows were secured. The glass in the rear storm door was broken, however, and the door was ajar.

Firefighters turned the investigation over to the Police Department’s Currin.

* Juanita Parham, 22, of the 900 block of Arch Street was robbed of $280 at 3:30 a.m. Sunday in the 700 block of Harriett Street.

* Patrol officers made several drug-related arrests.

Daniel L. Perry, 31, of the 710 Highland Ave. was arrested in a gray 1989 Jeep Cherokee in the 700 block of Harriett Street at 8:10 p.m. Saturday by Officer D.J. Chavis. Perry was jailed in lieu of $15,000 secured bond on felony charges of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and distribute a Schedule II controlled substance (cocaine) and possession with intent to manufacture, sell and distribute a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana), as well as misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while license revoked. He’s due in court May 17.

Robert Earl Smith, 51, of 409 E. Montgomery St. was reportedly found intoxicated with an open container of alcohol in the 300 block of East Montgomery Street by Officer D.A. Diogo at 7:24 p.m. Saturday. Smith was jailed in lieu of $400 secured bond on misdemeanor charges of possession of an open container and possession of drug paraphernalia (a glass crack pipe found in his pocket). He’s due in court May 17.

Anthony Brame, 19, of 726 State St. was arrested by Diogo in the 1200 block of East Andrews Avenue at 11:30 Sunday night and charged with possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance, possession of an open container and loud music. He was jailed in lieu of $600 secured bond and is due in court May 17.

Diogo reportedly made another arrest for possession of marijuana in the first few minutes of Sunday in the 1600 block of Graham Avenue, but full information on that case was not available Monday.