A multi-agency operation shortly before Christmas to expand law enforcement presence around commercial businesses netted charges for multiple suspects.

According to a release from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office’s public information officer, Capt. Mark McDaniel, from Dec. 19-20, the RCSO put together a project that included N.C. State Highway Patrol, and the Rockwell, Granite Quarry and Cleveland police departments.

“The focus of this operation was for officers to patrol commercial businesses with steady blue lights on to let the businesses and their customers know of law enforcement presence and to ensure their safety during their holiday shopping,” the release said.

That area also includes the interstate corridor that runs through Rowan County.

“This turned out to be very successful with the fact that two of the arrests during this project occurred by a deputy conducting business checks where he encountered two subjects who were (allegedly) stealing from a local retail establishment,” the release said.

That deputy reportedly recognized a possible theft in progress and after a brief foot pursuit, was able to take both suspects into custody.

The investigation revealed that one of the suspects, Lorenzo Grainger, allegedly attempted to defeat the anti-theft device and had an outstanding warrant out of Mecklenburg County for failing to return a hired motor vehicle.

The other suspect, Raheem Huggins, had allegedly ran when encountered by the deputy before providing a fictitious name after being caught. 

Grainger was charged with larceny by deactivating an anti-theft device and was served with the warrant out of Mecklenburg County.

Huggins was charged with two counts of resisting a public officer. Both subjects were placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under no bond, due to the pre-trial integrity act. 

Other statistical data from the operation included:

• Traffic stops: 186
• Warrant service(s): 8
• Motor vehicle citations: 88
• Criminal citation(s): 18
• Written warning(s): 48
• Arrest(s): 7
• Weapons seized: 1
• Controlled substances seized: 241.3 grams