News Flash

Officers from the Durham Police Department’s HEAT 2 squad investigated a suspicious vehicle and arrested two men on multiple firearm, robbery and drug charges Friday afternoon in the 100 block of Latta Road near Gatewood Drive.

At approximately 3:50 p.m. officers stopped Christopher J. Anderson, 28, of Haw River, and Benjamin R. Smith, 23, of Hillsborough.

Anderson and Smith were wearing black clothes and rubber gloves – and had ski masks. Multiple loaded firearms, 1 gram of cocaine and drug paraphernalia were located in the vehicle. Additional items found in the vehicle included a large hunting knife, duct tape, a sledge hammer, and a large duffel bag.

Anderson, the driver of the vehicle, was charged with two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, felony possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying concealed weapon, conspiracy to commit a break-in, conspiracy to commit a robbery with a dangerous weapon, and breaking and entering.

Smith was charged with possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, felony possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying concealed weapon, conspiracy to commit a break-in, and conspiracy to commit a robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Smith and Anderson confessed to multiple break-ins and larcenies of firearms in Durham, Orange, and Alamance counties. According to the men, they were on their way to commit a home invasion in Durham and had stopped to remove the license plate from their vehicle when confronted by HEAT 2.

Both men were placed in the Durham County Jail under a $65,000 secured bond.