Search warrants lead to 28 firearms, narcotics

Vernice Hardy, Andrew Holmes, and Jakiem Carmichael.
Vernice Hardy, Andrew Holmes, and Jakiem Carmichael.

Three men were jailed, 28 firearms seized and a quantity of narcotics were confiscated after a series of raids in Brunswick Jan. 27.
Additional details have been released on the raids since CCN first published this story last week.

The sheriff’s office reported that over the course of several months,  residents of Bitmore Road and Mill Loop Road in Brunswick had complained of suspicious activity, including alleged drug deals in daylight, around the three addresses. The Vice-Narcotics Unit initiated an investigation into the complaints.

On Jan. 27, vice officers, along with the SWAT and HEAT teams, detectives and staff executed simultaneous search warrants on three residences. Three suspects were arrested:
Andrew Tyron Holmes, 32, was placed under a $245,000 secured bond after investigators found multiple firearms, marijuana and MDMA Ecstasy in his home. His address was listed as 716 Bitmore Rd., Brunswick. Holmes was charged with 19 counts of possession of a firearm by a felon; altering a serial number on a firearm; five counts of possession, sale and delivery of marijuana; four counts of sale and delivery of marijuana; four counts of maintaining a dwelling for drug activities;   and possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver MDMA.

Vernie James Hardy, 71, of 75 Elm Loop Rd., Whiteville, was charged with a single count of possession of a weapon of mass destruction, a shortened .22 caliber rifle. His bond was set at $5,000 secured.

Jakiem Demitric Carmichael, 18, was charged with misdemeanor sale or purchase of a firearm without a permit. He was released on a $2,000.00 bond.

Some of the firearms recovered in the raid were reportedly stolen. Holmes allegedly had at least two AK-47 rifles, multiple handguns, hunting rifles and shotguns in his home. Warrants show that he previously served time in Louisiana for cocaine possession.

About Jefferson Weaver 1928 Articles
Jefferson Weaver is the Managing Editor of Columbus County News and he can be reached at (910) 914-6056, (910) 632-4965, or by email at [email protected].