Newton Citizen

PORTERDALE - Four men were arrested Thursday night after a search warrant of their residence yielded evidence of their participation in a recent burglary, according to Porterdale Police Department Chief Wayne Digby.

Digby said his officers, with assistance from the Covington/Newton County Special Investigations Unit and the Newton County Sheriff's Office, executed a search warrant at 7 Walnut St. on Thursday afternoon around 5 p.m.

The residents of the home - Justin Fox, 19, Charles T. Jenkins, 42, Thomas Jenkins, 31, and Jacobe Jenkins, 18 - were arrested and charged with possession of stolen property and taken to the Newton County Detention Center.

Digby said the men are suspects in a burglary that recently occurred at another Porterdale residence in which "several high-dollar items" were taken.

"Part of it was recovered at this residence (7 Walnut St.) and part of it was recovered from another person," Digby said.

Among the items taken were jewelry, electronics, a coin collection, a silver belt buckle, whiskey and food.

"Just an array of things were taken," he said. "Just about anything they could haul off."

Chief Digby released a statement in which he said, "It is the goal of the Porterdale Police Department and the officers of it to be as proactive as they can be to curb criminal activities within the city."

Digby went on to warn that outside agencies will also be called in to assist his department in curbing drug activity in order to "ensure the betterment of life within the city of Porterdale."

Barbara Knowles can be reached at barbara.knowles@newtoncitizen.com.