Gaston Man Arrested After Robbery

By Jon Mayhew (Cherryville) -- A 38-year-old Bessemer City man is arrested after robbing an elderly woman in the parking lot of a Cherryville business.

Cherryville Police investigative Lt. Mike Allred said Jerry Wayne Phillips of 233 Hastings Road approached a 78-year-old woman on Tuesday in the parking lot of Great Outdoors of Cherryville.

"He told her she had something hanging out of her passenger door," said Allred. "When the victim unlocked her door, Phillips opened the door and took her pocketbook."

Allred said the suspect left in a GMC Tahoe.

A witness in the parking lot jumped in his vehicle and followed Phillips as he was calling the police. The original incident happened on Dec. 22.

Monday, Phillips was located in Cherokee County, South Carolina, and arrested. He was returned to Gaston County and placed in jail under a $100,000 secured bond.

The victim was not harmed in the incident. Phillips had a first appearance hearing in Gaston County on Tuesday.

Cherryville Police also arrested a Lincolnton man in an unrelated matter.

Thirty-five year old Terry Allen Varner of Highway 182 was arrested Christmas Eve and charged with breaking and entering as well as larceny at a Cherryville business. Police said Varner broke into JBC Enterprise, stealing $4,300 worth of material.

He then took the material to a scrap metal yard in Waco. Varner was also served with two orders for arrest and given a $5,000 secured bond.

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