Police: Man accused of carjacking 70-year-old after armed robbery in Gastonia

GASTONIA, N.C. — A man is in custody after allegedly robbing a Gastonia vape shop with a knife and then carjacking a 70-year-old man, according to police.

The Gastonia Police Department said Matthew Westin Norwood, 37, was arrested after pulling a knife and waving it at an employee of the Tobacco and Vape Shope on South New Hope Road. Norwood grabbed hundreds of dollars’ worth of sage, police said.

Norwood rode his bike into a nearby neighborhood where police said he found a 70-year-old man with his truck in the driveway. The victim, Jimmy Weyant, told Channel 9′s Ken Lemon the man jumped into the driver’s seat and after a brief fight, Norwood got away.

“He kept saying he had to get out of here, I didn’t know what was going on down the street,” Weyant said.

The two men fought for control before Norwood slammed the truck door on Weyant’s wrist and kicked him in the chest, Weyant said.

“If I could have got the other hand on him, I would have pulled him out,” Weyant said. “If I could have got his leg, I would have pulled him out.”

Police said they chased Norwood back up New Hope Road, and officers from several departments were eventually able to corner the truck on Lowell-Bethesda Road and arrest him.

Norwood is facing a long list of charges racked up in the span of just a few minutes: Robbery, assault, theft, felony fleeing to elude and reckless driving. He’s in jail under a $325,000 bond and is expected to face a judge Friday afternoon.

As for Weyant, he said he got his truck back undamaged.

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