Authorities in Wake County have charged two men following several break-ins in various communities including Brass Kettle Road, Melcombe Way, and Moresham Way. The crimes, consisting of vehicle and garage break-ins, took place on November 23 and December 6, with victims reporting stolen guns, credit cards, and other personal items. Jostin Josue Ramirez-Duarte and Keshaun Byrd face multiple charges in connection with the incidents, as detailed in a social media post by the Wake County Sheriff's Office.
Ramirez-Duarte, 18, is facing a slew of charges, including ten counts of breaking a motor vehicle with theft, and two counts of first-degree burglary. He's being held without bond in the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. Byrd, 24, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, among other charges, and his bond is set at $250,000 in the Durham County Detention Center, the Wake County Sheriff's Office stated in their post.
Investigators benefited from a multi-jurisdictional effort, receiving key information from the Chatham and Orange County Sheriff’s Offices that led to connecting both Ramirez-Duarte and Byrd to the Wake County crimes. Sheriff Willie Rowe highlighted the collaboration, stating, “These arrests demonstrate the effectiveness of collaboration and persistence in law enforcement. Our office worked closely with neighboring agencies throughout the investigation, sharing information and coordinating efforts,” as described in the Wake County Sheriff's Office's announcement.
The arrests illustrate the importance of inter-agency cooperation. Detectives are still piecing together whether Ramirez-Duarte and Byrd might be linked to additional crimes in the area. As this is a fluid situation, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office assures the public that the investigation continues to be active and ongoing, in hopes of delivering full accountability for the string of break-ins.
