News

Robbery suspects caught after car chase

By Lightning Reports, Published: April 18, 2021

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office responding to a report of an individual being robbed by a man and woman with a handgun in the parking lot at 50 Cross Roads Drive in Mills River on Friday afternoon caught the suspects after a vehicle chase.

The armed robbery victim provided a description of the suspects and their vehicle as it was last seen headed towards Fletcher on N.C. 280. Officers with the Fletcher Police Department located the suspect vehicle on Airport Road and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The suspect vehicle attempted to flee from officers and a chase ensued.

The chase continued from Airport Road onto U.S. 25 towards Fletcher. The suspect vehicle collided with another vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 25 and Fanning Bridge Road. The two suspects then fled on foot, but were apprehended by officers within a few minutes. The handgun used in the robbery was also located and seized.

The Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation into the robbery and filed the appropriate charges on the suspects. The Fletcher Police Department filed charges on the suspect driver for various motor vehicle violations.

Peyton Alexander Graham, 22, of Hendersonville was arrested and charged with armed robbery, conspiracy of robbery with a dangerous weapon, flee to elude arrest, reckless driving to endanger, failure to heed blue lights and siren, possession of firearm by felon, resist, delay, obstruct a law enforcement officer and failure to stop for red light. Graham’s bond was set at $145,850.

Candice Rae Beattie, 22, of Hendersonville, was arrested and charged with conspiracy of robbery with a dangerous weapon, resist, delay and obstruct a law enforcement officer. Beattie’s bond was set at $50,300.