Suspect in rash of Fayetteville home invasion robberies captured
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- The suspect wanted in connection with three Fayetteville home invasion robberies in 18 hours was captured by police late Tuesday night.
Fayetteville police officers took Curtis Perry King into custody just after 10 p.m. in the 3000 block of Strickland Bridge Road after getting a call about a man walking through someone's backyard.
Authorities said officers canvassed the area and approached 43-year-old King before he fled into a heavily wooded area. After brief negotiations, King was taken into custody without incident.
Luke Harvey and Natasha Woodruff didn't know it at the time, but the young Fayetteville couple helped end what police called a one-man crime wave.
"It was nerve-wracking," said Natasha Woodruff. "We didn't know who he was."
Luke Harvey said Tuesday evening he was out walking his dog, when he spotted King trying to break into the rear of his home, and he shouted at the man.
"He started moving towards me," Harvey said. "So I siced my dog on him. He kept coming towards me so I grabbed a shovel and hit him in the face, and he fell down."
While Harvey ran inside to get his gun, King ran off into the woods where he was later captured by police.
King was taken to the Cumberland County Detention Center where he remains on an $185,000 bond.
In court Wednesday, a judge increased King's bond $600,000.
He has been charged with first-degree burglary, two counts of breaking and entering, three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of second-degree kidnapping, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle, and two counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
During one of the home invasions, 71-year-old Patricia Martin was held at gunpoint with her husband's gun.
Martin told ABC11 Wednesday that police said they believed the suspect got into her unlocked camper parked next to her home before forcing his way into her house. She said once he got in, he locked the doors in an apparent attempt to keep her from escaping.
"He made me sit on the floor while he went through everything," she said. "When he discovered the gun and the money he got angrier at me because he said I had lied to him by not telling him it was there. I didn't really get scared until he cocked back the pistol and put the pistol in my back."
Martin said he did not pull the trigger, but forced her to walk down a hall in her home before using duct tape to immobilize her. She was able to free herself about 45 minutes after he left in her car.
Martin's neighbor helped the frightened woman when she ran next door for help. The neighbor called 911.
"I'm very thrilled that they got him so quickly," Martin said. "I'm still nervous and scared, and it's going to take a while to get over it because of what he did."
In another robbery, authorities said the suspect knocked on the door to a home and entered as the 69-year-old homeowner loaded his rifle. Hours later, a 50-year-old homeowner walked in on the suspect, who then walked the victim around the home before taking off with his wallet, phone, handgun, and car.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THE ROBBERIES
ABC11 learned Wednesday that King posted a link to our story about the robberies on his Facebook page right before his arrest.
King used to work at local tattoo shops. The owner of one of the shops described him to ABC11 as a nice guy who had a big drug problem.
King's next court date is Sept. 8.
