Columbia police make three arrests for May burglaries and car thefts

COLUMBIA — After locating property stolen in at least four different incidents, police arrested three suspects in connection with a string of burglaries and auto thefts earlier this month.

Detectives are following additional leads and expect to make more arrests, the Columbia Police Department said in a release on Tuesday.

Officers arrested Quintshawn Jones and Drake Stockton-Kenney, both 18, on Monday. The two are suspected of stealing a number of items from at least four Columbia residences throughout May, the statement said. Lavonna Key, 20, was also arrested Monday on suspicion of receiving stolen property.

Police officers stepped up their investigation after locating a stolen Nissan Xterra and television set in a parking lot at Columbia Mall on Saturday, the release said. Jones was arrested first, at about 10 a.m. After interviewing him, police executed three search warrants.

The first, at Key's residence at 4536 Bellview Drive, led to the recovery of two stolen shotguns and a number of other missing items, the statement said. The other warrants, for Stockton-Kenney's residence at 4001 Mamba Drive and at 1106 N. Eighth St., didn't produce any other stolen items.

Public Information Officer Jessie Haden credited the cooperation among several police department units for the arrests of the three suspects and the recovery of the stolen goods.

Jones, of 2606 Quail Drive, is being held on two counts of second-degree burglary for his suspected involvement in thefts from homes on Iris and Robert Ray drives. Bond is set at $4,500 for each count. Jones also had an outstanding warrant for deceiving an officer, which carries a $750 bond.

Stockton-Kenney is being held on five counts of second-degree burglary for his suspected involvement in the incidents on Iris Drive, Poppy Way and Robert Ray Drive, as well as burglaries on Millbrook Drive and at the Holiday House Apartments. He is also being held on three counts of auto theft.

Police said Stockton-Kenney is connected with the theft of the now-recovered Xterra, as well as a red 1995 Dodge Ram taken from the Poppy Way address. Stockton-Kenney has also been identified as the driver of a stolen silver Chevy Impala involved in a one-vehicle accident on May 15, the release said. He is being held on an additional count of leaving the scene of that accident.