Wednesday, Feb. 09, 2011

Truck may be linked to arson

Someone driving a white Chevrolet S-10 Crew Cab truck with a small trailer in tow last week in the Windsor Pointe neighborhood might help Johnston County deputies solve an arson that destroyed a home, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.

Neighbors reported the two-story house at 18 New Castle Court on fire early Friday morning, and deputies later determined that the home had been burglarized before the blaze, said Tammy Amaon, a sheriff's spokeswoman.

She said the couple who live in the home had been away for roughly 10 days when the burglary and arson occurred.

Neighbors have told deputies that the two homeowners faced harassment because they are gay, Amaon said, but deputies have not confirmed the harassment was a factor in the crimes.

Neighbors told police that the white truck was towing a trailer carrying a John Deere LA115 riding mower and a Troy-Bilt push mower. Both mowers were stolen, Amaon said.

Deputies are asking anyone with information on the crimes to call them at 919-989-5010.