AHOSKIE – The New Year began with a bang, literally, in Ahoskie.

Reports of what sounded like “machine gun fire” on the outskirts of town eventually led to two arrests on totally different charges.

Ahoskie Police Chief Troy Fitzhugh reported that his department was notified New Year’s Eve night (Monday) by the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office in regards to gunshots at B&B Mobile Home Park, located on the Modlin Road north of Ahoskie. A description of a possible suspect vehicle (a silver Dodge Avenger) also accompanied the sheriff’s office report.

“We were alerted that the suspect vehicle may be headed towards Ahoskie,” Chief Fitzhugh said. “We dispatched officers to cover the main roads coming into town.”

Later (early morning on Tuesday), a vehicle matching the description of the B&B Mobile Home Park incident was seen parked at a Hill Street residence.

“(APD) Captain Michele Garrett noticed the vehicle and also noticed several people standing around the vehicle,” Chief Fitzhugh said. “As she was in the process of calling in the license plate number, she noticed those around the vehicle began to disperse, in particular one individual who appeared to be leaving in a hurry.”

Chief Fitzhugh, APD Lt. Jeanette Mathias and APD Sgt. Ty Metzler arrived on the scene. While there, the license plate information came back on the vehicle, listing it as a rental car.

“We were able to learn from that information that the rental agreement was expired and that the rental company had filed a stolen vehicle warrant through the Raleigh Police Department,” Chief Fitzhugh said.

The vehicle was rented by Latoya Denise Lewis, 30, of 208 West Hayes Street, Ahoskie.

“She (Lewis) came to the scene and at first gave Captain Garrett incorrect information, but later changed it to the correct information,” Chief Fitzhugh reported.

Lewis, who was charged with one count of felonious rental vehicle fraud and jailed under a $10,000 secured bond, consented to a search of the vehicle. There, a jacket was discovered with marijuana in one of the pockets.

“We were able to determine that the jacket belonged to Reco Larone Lewis by discovering an application form with his name on it in another pocket of the jacket,” Chief Fitzhugh said.

Reco Lewis, 19 of 208 West Hayes Street, later came by the Ahoskie Police Department and admitted that the marijuana belonged to him. He was charged with felony possession with intent to sale and deliver marijuana and jailed under a $5,000 secured bond.

Chief Fitzhugh said no weapons were discovered in the vehicle.