Dover – State Police Criminal Investigators have arrested five people involved in a Kent County burglary ring.

Delaware State Police Troop 3 Property Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the Maryland State Police, concluded a three month joint burglary investigation involving defendant Christopher Bacon and Harry McKnight.   The investigation revealed that Bacon and McKnight committed numerous burglaries throughout western and northern Kent County, Smyrna and Caroline County Maryland beginning in July of 2017.  During the burglaries, the suspects would target residences and garages containing firearms, ammunition, lawn equipment, riding mowers, tools, jewelry, cash, and electronics, before selling the property for cash or trading it for narcotics.  During the course of the investigation residences in the 200 block of Wilson Private Drive, Smyrna and the 1000 block of Lentz Road, Henderson, Maryland were identified as destinations for the trade of stolen property.

On Thursday September 28, 2017, Troop 3 Property Crimes Unit, along with the Kent County Governor’s Task Force (GTF), and the Special Operations Response Team (SORT)executed a search warrant at a residence in the 200 block of Wilson Private Drive in Smyrna where Vance L. Taylor and Gerald Edmonds were taken into custody without incident.  Upon conducting the search, two Mossberg shotguns, a Chinese SKS 47 rifle with scope and tripod, 112.65 grams of PCP, 10.42 grams of heroin, 5.13 grams of crack cocaine, 13.23 grams of cocaine, several hundred rounds of 7.62 ammunition, numerous pills, and $2,579.00 in suspected drug proceeds were located in the residence. The SKS rifle, scope, and bipod were reported stolen in a burglary near Hartly that was committed by Christopher Bacon, Harry Mcknight, and Greg Grantland.

Christopher Bacon, 38 of Hartly, was taken into custody on September 28, 2017 during a traffic stop and charged with three counts of Burglary 2^nd, Burglary 3^rd, Theft of Motor Vehicle, Theft of a Firearm, four counts of Felony Theft, Misdemeanor Theft, Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited, Possession of Ammunition by Person Prohibited, Conspiracy 2^nd, three counts of Criminal Mischief, Criminal Trespass, four counts of Selling Stolen Property,  three counts Theft by False Pretense, and three counts of Falsifying Business records.  He was arraigned at JP2 and committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC) on $15,805.00 cash bond.

Harry M. McKnight Jr., 44 of Henderson, Maryland, was taken into custody on September 28, 2017 during a traffic stop with Christopher Bacon and charged with three counts of Burglary 2^nd, Burglary 3^rd, Theft of Motor Vehicle, Theft of a Firearm, four counts of Felony Theft, Misdemeanor Theft, Conspiracy 2^nd, three counts of Criminal Mischief, and Criminal Trespass. Committed to JTVCC on $8,005.00 cash bond.

Vance L. Taylor, 22 of Smyrna, was arrested on September 28, 2017 for three counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, two counts of Possession of Controlled Substance in a Tier 5 Quantity, four counts of Possession of Firearm or Ammunition by Person Prohibited, six counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity, Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 1 Quantity, Possession of a weapon with Obliterated Serial Number, Receiving a Stolen Firearm, Conspiracy Second, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was committed to JTVCC in default of $130,700.00 cash bond

Gerald Edmonds, 23 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested on September 28, 2017 for three counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, two counts Possession of Controlled Substance in a Tier 5 Quantity, six counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity, Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 1 Quantity, Possession of a weapon with Obliterated Serial Number, Receiving a Stolen Firearm, Conspiracy Second, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  He was committed to JTVCC in default of $121,450.00 cash bond.

Greg A. Grantland, 43 of Smyrna was arrested on October 3, 2017 for Burglary 2^nd, nine counts of Theft of a Firearm, Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Possession of Firearm by Person Prohibited, Possession of Ammunition by Person Prohibited, and Felony Theft.  He was committed to JTVCC in default of $131,100.00 cash bond.

Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier

Released: 100417 2000

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