Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 3, 1990 TAG: 9007030387
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A police spokesman confirmed that at least some of the items confiscated from a Southwest Roanoke house were stolen. Authorities said some serial numbers matched those from goods reported stolen.
Law enforcement officials from localities around Roanoke were filing into the city police department Monday to photograph and run serial-number comparisons on tools, stereo equipment, walkie-talkies and other items seized.
The spokesman said some of the items appeared to have been stolen directly from retail stores.
Police also seized $16,000 in cash.
The amount of goods seized was cramping the bureau Monday, and the merchandise was being moved to a warehouse on other city-owned property, the spokesman said.
The goods were seized after police entered the home of James Arthur "Ben" Muse with a search warrant Friday afternoon.
Although they were looking for drugs, they quickly spotted the stolen goods, most of which were neatly stacked in the basement.
Muse, 40, of the 4300 block of Bristol Road, and four other men were arrested after police found five ounces of powdered cocaine in the house.
Muse, his brother, Paul D. Muse, and James A. Claytor, 34, of the 4400 block of Booker Road Southwest, were charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Robert E. Claytor, 37, also of the 4400 block of Booker Road, and Marciano A. White, whose address was unknown, were charged with possession of cocaine. No theft charges had been filed as of Monday night.
When police arrived at the brick home with a redwood split-rail fence out front, two of the suspects were outside and three were in the house.
None of the suspects resisted, although police found a pistol and two shoulder guns in the house.
Court records show that an informant's tip led police to the house. According to the search warrant affidavit, the informant has provided police with information that led to six previous drug arrests in the past year. Two of those arrests led to convictions and four cases are pending.
by CNB