5 charged after guns stolen from patrol car

Fayetteville, N.C. — Four men and one woman who authorities say are members of a local gang have been charged with breaking into a Cumberland County deputy's patrol car.

The patrol car was burglarized on April 1 while it was parked outside the deputy's home, authorities said. An iPod and several weapons that were stored in the trunk of the car were stolen, authorities said.

Detectives recovered the iPod at a Bragg Boulevard pawn shop where one of the five suspects works, authorities said. As the investigation continued, detectives uncovered a cache of weapons unrelated to the patrol car break-in, authorities said.

Christopher Charles Haslerig, 20, of 6117 Lonestar Road, was charged with breaking and entering of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen goods. William Brandon Smith, 19, of 426 St. George Drive, was charged with breaking and entering of a motor vehicle, felony larceny and possession of stolen goods.

Michael Rolando Brown, 18, of 922 Pedro St., was charged with possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon. Markina Nekesa Elliott, 18, of 4750 Dominion Road, was charged with possession of a stolen firearm.

Harvey Lamar Sangster, 19, of 922 Pedro St., was charged with possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Authorities said all five are members of GMC, or Get Money Clique, a local gang that has been around since about 2001. There are about 40 known members of the gang, which was once known as Pimp Squad.

The case remains under investigation, and more arrests were expected, authorities said.