Charges Filed Against Taylorsville Man After Friday Manhunt

Richard Eugene Pennell

A Taylorsville man who was able to evade law enforcement on Friday is now behind bars.

42-year old Richard Eugene Pennell was arrested Sunday morning by Alexander County Sheriff’s Deputies not far from where he was spotted running into a wooded area in the Ellendale Community. He had been spotted passing on a double yellow line before leading a Deputy on a short chase, then abandoning a vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Pennell was able to stay clear of officers, bloodhounds, and a North Carolina Department of Public Safety helicopter on Friday. He was spotted with something in his hand that resembled a firearm. Pennell was considered to be armed and dangerous.

Pennell is no stranger to law enforcement. He has been arrested on multiple charges over the course of the last 15 years and served an eight month sentence in state prison for revocation of probation in 2008. Since he’s been behind bars mostly for non-violent crimes like felony breaking and entering, larceny, possession of stolen goods, possession of a firearm by a felon, driving with license revoked, driving while impaired and failure to appear.

Pennell Taken In Custody Sunday Morning

Charges filed after his arrest Sunday include

Felony flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle
Resisting arrest
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Failure to appear x2
Driving with license revoked
Driving left of center
Fictitious/expired tag
Driving left of center

Pennell is being held in the Alexander County Detention Center with a secured bond of $156,200 and is scheduled to appear Monday in Alexander County District Court.

Alexander County Sheriff Chris Bowman said Sunday morning, “We were confident we would find him, this should make people feel better that he’s in jail.”

Photos: Alexander County Sheriff’s Office

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