Published: July 19, 2008 10:58 pm         

Beckley police make three arrests

Beckley police say they found a practical arsenal that included an assault rifle hidden under a living room couch and a bulletproof vest in a kitchen when they executed a drug-related search warrant.

Carl Christian Penn, 28, of Bostick Avenue, Beckley, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine), Detective Lt. Gant Montgomery said. Matthew Scott Pugh, 21, an Ohio resident with local ties, was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. Jamal Anthony Johnson, 18, of Baltimore, was charged with possession of a concealed weapon.

All three were taken into custody Friday night. According to Southern Regional Jail records, Penn was released on $20,000 bond, and Johnson on $1,000 bond. Pugh remained jailed on $20,000 bond.

Police executed a search warrant at Penn’s 414 Bostick Ave. residence around 9 p.m. Friday, Montgomery said. A cocaine buy in the city led officers to obtain information leading to the warrant.

When officers arrived to execute the warrant, Detective Sgt. Dean Bailey saw Johnson toss a .22 caliber revolver under a Chevy Blazer, Montgomery said. Police found about 10 other people, including Penn and Pugh, standing in the yard.

Police then entered the house and found numerous weapons, drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to Montgomery. Underneath the living room couch, they found an assault rifle using 5.56 mm ammunition and a P89 9 mm Ruger handgun. A .380 High Point automatic handgun was found in a box, also located in the living room.

A bulletproof vest was found inside a box in the kitchen, Montgomery said. Police also found a set of digital scales and a pill bottle. Several pills, which appeared to have been thrown, were found in the yard. Penn also had a large amount of cash on his person.

Inside the Blazer, officers found several unused “body targets” — paper targets that commonly have the outline of a person on them, Montgomery said.

Cpl. Will Reynolds and his new K-9 partner Helo, Cpl. Jamie Blume, Cpl. Andrew Neason, Cpl. Jamie Wilhite and Patrolman J.A. Grogg also participated in the search warrant execution, Montgomery said.

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