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