Three men were taken into custody after a brief search and some attempt at ‘slight of hand’ with their getaway vehicle. The incident started late in the afternoon with a theft from the Sears store in Boone Mall. Boone Police were given a description of the suspects and the black Toyota they fled in, but at their next stop, they were seen pulling their South Carolina tag off of the Toyota and replacing it with another. Then they fled toward Blowing Rock, but with Watauga Sheriff’s deputies on their trail, they doubled back into Boone, only to be caught on College Place in town.  Warrants were checked for the trio, and some outstanding warrants were found on at least one of the suspects. The suspects grabbed two chainsaws and ran from the store to a waiting vehicle.  The vehicle was located a short time later in the Leola Drive area and stopped by Boone officers.
As a result of this incident, the following subjects were charged with various offenses.

Luis Alberto Rodriguez, 27 years old
2564 Shadowbrook Dr, Lot 50
Lenoir, North Carolina 28645
Charges: Misdemeanor Larceny and a stop sign violation    
Bond Amount: $1,000

Johnny Mack Arnette, Jr, 46 years old
2150 Triplett Rd
Granite Falls, North Carolina 28630
Charges: Misdemeanor Larceny and nine outstanding warrants from other agencies were served   
Bond Amount: $3,500

William Dennis Robertson, 57 years old                     
311 10th Street
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28659
Charge: Misdemeanor Larceny
Bond Amount: $1,000

All three subjects have an October 16, 2012, court date in Watauga County District Court.

The SC tag was recovered at the Blowing Rock Road fast food restaurant.