New Bern, NC (WITN) – Deputies say an Eastern Carolina sheriff’s deputy was injured by a machete while catching two men suspected of stealing catalytic converters.
The Craven County Sheriff’s Office says it happened Sunday at 3:30 p.m
According to officers, they responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle on the 4400 block of Old Cherry Point Road. They found a GMC truck parked on private property without permission from the property owners.
Officers say they recognized the vehicle was involved in other catalytic converter thefts in James City and Old Cherry Point in recent weeks. As they got closer, they saw several catalytic converters in the bed of the empty truck.
The truck was parked behind Pure 1 Auto Sales on Highway 70 East. As they approached the parking lot, officers said they saw two men attempting to remove a catalytic converter from a vehicle. The men tried to run away, after which officers chased them.
Officers say while they were arresting the men, one officer suffered a wound to his hand from a machete one of the men had.
The deputy was treated and released from CarolinaEast Medical Center.
Deputies say the two men were identified as 39-year-old Samuel White of Vanceboro and 44-year-old Edward Horn of New Bern.
Both men were charged with five felonies, theft of motor vehicle parts and assault on a law enforcement officer causing serious injury.
White is being held without bond because he was already out on bond on unrelated charges.
Horn is being held under a $150,000 bond.
Deputies say more charges are expected in this ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about White and Horn is asked to call emergency services at 252-636-6620.
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