Couple carjacked in Johnston County, suspect appears in court after arrest on golf course

Monday, January 13, 2025 5:49PM ET
CLAYTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- A couple from South Carolina were injured after a man flagged them down and stole their car in Johnston County over the weekend.

According to deputies, the incident happened on Saturday at 3:12 pm. Deputies responded to Polenta Road in Clayton for a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian.

When deputies arrived, a man and a woman were found on the road along with a black GMC vehicle.

The couple were identified as Helmut Mossig and Ulrike Mossig from Cheraw, South Carolina.

The two said they were driving on Polenta Road in their Ford Edge when they observed the black GMC on the road and there was a man in his 20s, standing outside of the vehicle flagging them down.



They told investigators they stopped because the man seemed in distress, and that's when another man ran up to their vehicle and ordered them to get out.

According to warrants, the woman was dragged out of the car and the man sustained "severe cuts to his arms and legs."

The suspect then sped off with their vehicle. Court records show he was allegedly going 110 mph in an area zoned for 45 mph.

Deputies determined the black GMC vehicle had been reported stolen from Raleigh.

Soon after the carjacking, deputies found the victim's stolen vehicle on Cleveland Road in Johnston County. Deputies tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop and a chase started.

Donald Avery Banks faces 20 charges in the case.



Deputies lost sight of the vehicle, but it was seen again by Clayton police on US Highway 70 West. Another chase began that came to a stop in the parking lot of Pine Hollow Golf Club.



Donald Avery Banks, 20, of Cary was taken into custody at Pine Hollow Golf Club after he parked the car and took off running onto the golf course, a club employee told ABC11.

Banks faces 20 charges in the case; eight of those are felonies.

On Monday, a homeowner who lives along Polenta Road told ABC11 that he was driving on the road Saturday and saw the GMC pulled over and almost stopped to help. He's thankful now that he kept going. He did not want to be identified

SEE ALSO | Investigation underway after man found dead in back of vehicle in Benson

On Monday, a judge increased Banks' bond to $500,000 on one of the charges.



Copyright © 2025 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.