ROCKINGHAM — A man is facing several charges after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a car dealership early Tuesday morning.
According to the Rockingham Police Department, 29-year-old Derek Keith Chappell broke in to Dieffenbach G.M. Superstore and took off in a vehicle that was being serviced.
Officers arriving on the scene say they saw Chappell leaving the dealership in the vehicle and followed him until he came to a stop at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital-Richmond — where was he was treated for several cuts he obtained during the break-in, according to police.
Chappell is facing felony charges of breaking and entering, larceny of a motor vehicle and fleeing to elude arrest in a motor vehicle; as well as misdemeanor larceny, resisting a public officer and failing to stop at a stop sign.
He was booked into the Richmond County Jail under a $25,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court May 23.
“Our officers did an excellent job of surrounding and containing the area around Dieffenbach so that they could contain any possible suspect fleeing the scene, which ultimately led to his apprehension,” Chief Billy Kelly said in a statement.
Online court records show Chappell has a court appearance scheduled for June 11 on several traffic infractions.
Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Chappell spent three months in 2015 behind bars when his probation was revoked on four felony counts of larceny after breaking and entering.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
