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WINDSOR, N.C.

Deon Marcel Gatling, the suspect in the alleged abduction of an elderly Virginia man last month, was arrested on Wednesday morning in — of all places — a courtroom in Bertie County, North Carolina.

Chief Deputy Kenny Perry of the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office told Windsor Weekly that Gatling had been in court on charges of first-degree attempted burglary when the department became aware of the warrant for Gatling’s arrest from Isle of Wight County. The chief deputy said Gatling was arrested without incident.

Perry added that Gatling, 30, is at the Bertie-Martin Regional Jail, where he will be held until his extradition process is done and Virginia picks him up.

The suspect, whose last known address was in the 100 block of Eleytown Road in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, was wanted by the (Virginia) Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office for the alleged abduction of a Carrsville resident at his home on the evening of June 30.

As previously reported, the victim had returned from a trip to Walmart in Franklin when he was allegedly confronted and then forced to surrender his wallet and credit cards. Then he was reportedly forced in a car trunk, taken to an unknown location and later released the next morning in the vicinity of Churchland, Virginia. Lt. Tommy Potter, spokesman for the IOW Sheriff’s Office, informed the newspaper in early July that the night of the incident, money had been taken from the victim’s account via an ATM in Murfreesboro. Potter added that another attempt was made to get more cash at another business in Chesapeake.

In addition to the alleged abduction and robbery, Gatling faces charges for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; credit card theft and fraud; and the use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

“The Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s office appreciates the assistance of the Bertie County Sheriffs Office in this matter,” said Potter.

 

STEPHEN FALESKI, a staff writer, contributed to this story.