Men arrested after attempted robbery of undercover detective

According to the arrest report, Benjamin Lee Peoples, 25, of 6886 Wyandote Ave., approached a detective with the Special Investigations Division who was conducting an undercover operation at 6 Timlic Ave. around 1 p.m. Peoples carried a 9 mm handgun and demanded money, the report says.

The detective drew his service weapon and discharged one round toward Peoples, according to the report. Peoples dropped the handgun and was arrested without further incident.

No one was injured.

Investigators arrested Wallace Donnell Clayton, 25, of 6 Timlic Ave. Apt. D, as Peoples' accomplice.

Both men were charged with attempted armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. They were being held in the Forsyth County Jail under separate $250,000 bonds.

The detective, whose name was withheld to protect his operation, has been placed on administrative leave. That follows standard procedure for all officer-involved shootings in North Carolina.

Police said they were continuing the investigation and expected to file more charges.

Clayton was released from prison on March 17, 2009, after serving 1½ years for motor vehicle violations and a probation violation, according to state Department of Correction records. The probation stemmed from a 2001 string of 10 robberies with a dangerous weapon in Forsyth County in which Clayton as convicted.

DOC records show Peoples was on probation after being convicted on four counts of larceny and two counts of breaking-and-entering, all misdemeanors, in Forsyth County in October 2008.