[gallery link="file"]

DENVER – Several citizens helped Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies make arrests in a fraud call on N.C. 73.

On Feb. 2 deputies responded to Murphy's Express on N.C. 73 reference a possible gift card fraud in progress.  When officers pulled into the parking lot the Lincoln County Communications Center informed them that the suspect vehicle, white in color, was trying to leave the scene.

Deputies stopped the vehicle in the Lowe's Store parking lot where the driver exited the vehicle and approached the patrol car. The driver refused to comply when officers ordered him back into his car.  When suspect attempted to flee on foot toward N.C. 73, the deputy gave chase and fired his taser at the man.  The taser had little affect because the suspect was wearing a heavy coat.

The deputy caught the suspect and, with the help of three citizens, was able to get the man in custody.

Another officer who responded got into a foot chase with a second suspect.  The man ran into Advance Auto on N.C. 73 and tried to lock himself in the restroom. Store officials provided a key to the restroom, and the man was taken into custody.  The suspects were escorted back to Murphy's Express where they had used a fraudulent or altered gift card to purchase three cartons of cigarettes.

Albert Leonard Alexander, Jr., 43, of 2721 Bellefonte Drive, Apt A, Charlotte was charged with one felony count of Obtaining Property by False Pretenses, one misdemeanor count each of Driving while License Were Revoked and Resist, Delay and Obstruct an Officer.

Justin Louis Wright, 28, of 300 Mountain View Avenue, Onondaga, New York was charged with one felony count each of Obtaining Property by False Pretenses and Conspiracy to Obtain Property by False Pretenses. He was also charged with misdemeanor Resist, Delay and Obstruct an Officer.

Patricia Louise Thompson, 38, of 2721 Bellefonte Drive, Charlotte, NC was charged with felony Conspiracy and misdemeanor Aiding and Abetting.  The three suspects were placed in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond.

Additional charges from other counties are possible against the suspects.

Investigating officers were Deputies F. Runyon, K. Davis and Detective Matt Burgess.