Lance Martin Herald Senior Staff Writer

Lance Martin | Daily Herald Weldon Police Chief Mark Macon, foreground, checks a recovered safe stolen from Cornerstone Christian School with the help of Sgt. Chris Davis, left, and Officer Chester Tillis III. Advertisement

WELDON - A lot of people in the community are referring to Edwin Rashawn Branch as the Grinch who tried to steal Christmas from residents at Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehab Center, Weldon Police Chief Mark Macon said Thursday night.

Branch, 22, has not yet been charged with the break-in and theft of gift bags from the center, but Macon said he plans to draw up warrants for that and a break-in at Cornerstone Christian School.

Branch, however, was arrested Thursday and placed in Halifax County Jail under $25,000 bond for several other crimes in Weldon and is a suspect in more crimes in the town and the county, Macon said.

“He's probably done two times more than I know about,” Macon said after retrieving a safe from down a path off Resers Store Road late Thursday night, one that belonged to Cornerstone Christian School.

An undisclosed amount of cash and what Macon described as very important documents related to the school are missing. He continues to investigate to determine who else was involved in the theft of the safe.

But the theft of the gift bags is what has angered the chief and the people he has talked to in trying to solve the break-in earlier this week of the convalescent center.

The bags contained nightgowns, which have not been recovered, perfumes, hair brushes and other notions. The police department did recover the gift bags. “That's getting to the lowest of the lowest when you steal from the convalescent center,” Macon said. “That's like probably the only stuff they will have this year.”

Evelyn May, manager of Liberty Commons, was pleased to hear Branch was apprehended. “That is fantastic. That is wonderful. That shows the wonderful police work we have in Weldon.”

May said the stolen gifts have already been replaced through the generosity of community donations and the staff.

Macon said he believes Branch, who has a 10-page criminal history dating back to 2001, is also suspected of committing several church break-ins and others in the area. His rap sheet includes breaking and enterings, property crimes and larcenies.

Branch, Macon said, committed the crimes to support a crack habit. He is also suspected of stealing a car in Emporia, Va., and the Halifax County Sheriff's Office has a warrant for his arrest for stealing a vehicle.

Last night, Branch was charged with two counts of criminal damage to real property, two counts breaking and entering, two counts of criminal damage to personal property, two counts breaking and entering a motor vehicle, one count of felony larceny and one count of misdemeanor larceny. The charges stem from residential and vehicle break-ins.