Serial Auto Parts Store Robber Faces Federal Charges

by TONY BURBECK / NewsChannel 36

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Federal court records show a man initially charged with one auto parts store armed robbery was involved in ten more in the summer of 2009.
 
The armed robberies at Napa, Advance, Auto Zone and O’Reilly Auto Parts stores were fast, furious and seemed to happen in bunches, from Charlotte to Kannapolis to Rock Hill.

At the time, police asked people driving by auto parts stores to pay attention to who was entering the store just in case it could help solve the crimes.

Dates of the armed robberies stem from July 13, 2009 to August 10, 2009.

NewsChannel 36 read the list to Amanda Austin, because prosecutors said the suspect – 22-year-old Rashard Dean Boyd – also robbed a Subway in Rock Hill and a Domino’s Pizza in Concord. The Domino’s is very close to her yoga center.

 

 Rashard Dean Boyd

 

“You read off the dates, I know I was weeding and gardening and it’s scary to think it was just up the street,” Austin said.

Employees at those stores and restaurants wouldn’t talk on camera Wednesday, but said police have been keeping them in the loop on Boyd’s federal robbery conspiracy and weapon charges. They said they hope the plea deal means Boyd gets a long prison sentence.

Some employees said they had guns stuck in their backs and faces as Boyd allegedly forced them to hand over cash so he wouldn’t leave fingerprints.

One employee told us he hasn’t been the same since and almost left his job.

“You breathe a little easier,” Austin said.

Two doors down was too close for comfort. She said she’s happy so many victims are seeing some justice.

“It makes me feel more confident that the law is working in our favor,” she said.

We called Boyd’s attorney to try to get details of the plea deal but didn’t hear back. He’s due in court September 21 for the plea hearing, according to court records.

Authorities also arrested two alleged accomplices who are due in court in October.

Clover, S.C. Man Arrested After “Practical Joke” Causes Car Crash

From www.wcnc.com – September 16, 2011

CLOVER, S.C. – A 20-year-old man was arrested after he put a rubber snake on the side of the road that caused two vehicles to crash.

The incident happened Thursday around 6:30 p.m. along W Highway 55 in Clover.

“It started out as a practical joke,” Stafford Farris told NewsChannel 36.

NewsChannel 36 photo

Farris said he tied fishing line around a three foot fake snake and placed it on the side of the road.  Then he walked up a hill.

“I was still setting up,” Farris said.  “I was going to pull it across the road, but I didn’t get time.”

According to a police report, the driver of a Honda saw the snake and hit the brakes.  The driver of a Dodge crashed into the back of the Honda.

No one was seriously injured in the accident, according to the police report, but the Honda had to be towed from the scene.

Farris said he feels bad about what happened.  “I will not do it again,” he said.

Farris was charged with placing a foreign object in the road and has a court date for January 2012.