Valdese, NC – A theft at a local Dollar General sparked a high-speed chase in Valdese, leading to the arrest of a Rutherford County man. On September 10, around 2:50 PM, Officer Smith attempted to stop a white pickup truck linked to the earlier theft. The driver, identified as James Alexander Keller, refused to stop on Lovelady Road, triggering a pursuit.
According to the Valdese Police Department, the chase extended through Rutherford College and toward Draughton High School, with officers deploying spike strips to slow the suspect. The truck, reported stolen from Maiden, NC, was eventually disabled after crashing near Oakland Avenue and Abernathy Circle.
Burke County Sheriff’s deputies, along with officers from the Drexel Police Department, assisted in searching for Keller after he fled on foot. Keller was arrested near Rails Road after officers spotted him matching the suspect’s description.
Keller now faces multiple felony charges, including eluding arrest with a motor vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle. He is also charged with misdemeanors, including resisting arrest. Keller is held on a $30,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on September 27th.
