Duo Caught Red-Handed Dumping Debris at Raleigh Home

A Wake County sheriff's deputy caught Jason Bryant, 22, and Barry Riley, 44, in the act of dumping debris at a vacant home on Old Creedmoor Road.

Owner Sandra Pope said she felt "pure outrage, so angry" at finding the debris at her deceased mother's old home. Piled behind the house were a tower of tree limbs, a pile of pine straw and a mountain of other lawn debris.

Pope's son said a friend of his tipped the family off to the illegal dumping.

"He said that he heard someone bragging about dumping on my grandmother's property," Tommy Pope said.

The family called the sheriff's office, and the deputy who came out to make an arrest had excellent timing.

"He went down to take a closer look and looked up, and there was a truck coming down the driveway," Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison said.

The deputy found Bryant and Riley, who are charged with illegal dumping. Officers said the investigation is ongoing, and more charges could be filed against the two.

Sandra Pope said the family has been getting the property ready to go on the market.

"We just paid a man to come and clean up some of the debris and stuff that was there, and for someone to come and use it as their own personal dumping ground," she said.

The family must pay to clean-up someone's mess, but if Bryant and Riley are found guilty, the court could order them to pay for the clean-up.

"I really could not understand how someone could have a total, utter disrespect for someone's property like that," Tommy Pope said.