Three Columbia men were arrested and jailed March 5 for felony breaking and entering, larceny, and felony charges of cruelty to animals, Sheriff Darryl Liverman reported.

The sheriff stated that on February 7 deputies with the Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Office responded to a breaking and entering call at a residence on N.C. 94 North.

Upon arrival deputies found an injured pit bull inside the residence and that the residence had been ransacked.

As a result of the investigation deputies charged Raheem Spencer, 23, of Columbia with felony breaking and entering

and larceny. He was also charged with felony cruelty to animals after deputies were able to determine that the injured pit bull had been shot during the breaking and entering. Spencer was currently on probation for felonious larceny.

Deputies also arrested Dequan Spencer, 25, of Columbia on the same charges. Spencer had been previously convicted of several criminal offenses, including felonies, and has spent active time in the North Carolina Department of Corrections.

Also arrested and charged with the same offenses was Kareem Spencer, 16, of Columbia.

All three were placed in the Dare County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond.

Sgt. Kevin Sawyer and Deputy Jim Schreckengost were the lead investigators in the case.