The Durham Police Department announced that it is making headway in investigating a spate of crimes in the city that occurred from January through May this year.
Durham residents Trey Brown, 18, and Scott Eakes, 19, were arrested June 20 by DPD in connection with numerous armed-robbery and assault incidents. The victims of at least two of the robberies-one on Dacian Avenue and the other on Watts Street-were Duke students, said Kammie Michael, public information officer and public relations coordinator for DPD.
She added that Brown and Eakes were being held on $2.5 million bonds. The pair had their first court appearance June 23, and they were slapped with 75 additional charges June 26 for breaking and entering, larceny and other crimes.
DPD Chief Jose Lopez held a press conference the afternoon of the arrest, and he cited boredom as the teens' reason for committing the crimes. Lopez said the two suspects were affiliated with a local gang, but added that investigators did not think the spate of robberies were gang-related, according to a June 26 WRAL report.
DPD investigators found and arrested Brown and Eakes at their homes after receiving tips linking a silver Toyota 4Runner with several robbery incidents, Michael said.
She added that DPD is currently investigating the two teens' connection with several other robbery and assault incidents.
In addition to the five robbery-related crimes, Brown and Eakes were charged with theft of a scooter and a May 24 shooting. They are also being investigated for a shooting incident that occurred March 6 near Northgate Mall, when several shots were fired from a nearby park into a crowd of passengers waiting for a Durham Area Transit Authority bus, a DPD press release stated. No one was injured in the shooting, but several bullets hit the bus and a nearby vehicle.
Michael added that DPD investigators hope to find other individuals involved in the crimes.
"We do anticipate further arrests," she said. "And we're working with law enforcement agencies in other areas as well. This is still a very active investigation."
DPD is continuing to investigate several crimes that date back to Fall 2007, including shootings, vandalisms, car thefts and car break-ins at more than 60 apartment complexes in Durham, the press release stated.
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