STOLEN CAR SUSPECT DOESN'T GO FAR

By Jon Mayhew

CATAWBA COUNTY -- Newton Police are looking for a second suispect after a bizzare incident involving a stolen vehicle that happened the Monday before Christmas.

Around 8:30pm, police were called to the Kangaroo Express at East 20th Street at Rankin Avenue in reference to a stolen motor vehicle. The victim, identified as Kevin Carter of Newton, was inside the store when his Jeep Cherokee was taken from the parking lot.

The suspects -- a white male and white female -- got into the vehicle and backed into the gas pumps at the business. They drove north through the parking lot and along the side of the road, before crashing into a Duke Energy utility pole about one block from the store. Damage estimates to the vehicle and pole were around $4,200. The gas pumps weren't damaged.

After striking the pole, both suspects fled on foot. Tad Aaron Navy, 33, of Conover, was found by authorities hiding behind another car at a nearby residence. He was charged with two counts of felony breaking, entering and larceny of a motor vehicle; misdemeanor larceny and misdemeanor hit and run.

Police said Navy had also broken into a motor vehicle on East 21st Street in Newton beloning to another victim.