According to Lt. Steve Myers of the High Point Department, James Antonio Legrande, 20, of 1901 S. Elm St. in High Point, was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of common law robbery in connection with Friday’s robbery and a June 10 robbery at Kangaroo Express Station at 1901 Westchester Drive in High Point.
At approximately 9:48 a.m. Tuesday, Thomasville police were dispatched to the Bank of North Carolina on National Highway due to a report of a suspicious person inside the bank. Before officers arrived, the person left the bank driving north on National Highway toward High Point.
Shortly after contacting High Point police with the information and vehicle description, the vehicle was located and a brief chase ensued. The suspect drove back into Thomasville where he was finally stopped and arrested at the intersection of National Highway and Unity Street after being blocked in by officers with TPD and Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
High Point police already were looking for Legrande after a report of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Wachovia Bank on Westchester Drive in High Point around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“We received information [from Friday’s robbery] that he was driving a Gold Mitzubishi Galant and had a tag number that we were circulating in the area,” said Myers. “One of our officers later spotted the vehicle, but instead of pulling over, he took off and did not stop.
“It was not a high speed chase, as he just drove and refused to stop, but speed did get up to 60 mph.”
From evidence found on Legrande and in the vehicle, High Point police also charged him with the June 10 robbery at the Kangeroo Express.
Myers said Legrande may have been seeking his next robbery victim.
“After searching the vehicle, we did find a note demanding money,” Myers said.
On Friday, Legrande allegedly entered High Point Bank and Trust at 1813 Westchester Drive in High Point at around 1:30 p.m. and presented a note to the teller demanding money. He fled out the rear door of the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. After further investigation, detectives obtained warrants against LeGrande for Common Law Robbery.
A similar note also was passed to the store clerk in the Kangaroo Express robbery, Myers said.
No one was injured during the chase or in the robberies and no weapon was used.
In addition to the two counts of common law robbery, Legrade was charged with driving without a license and reckless driving, along with numerous other traffic offenses. He was placed in the Guilford County Jail in High Point and issued a $31,500 bond.
Legrande was captured as the result of a concerted effort by Thomasville and High Point police, Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.
Editor Lisa Wall can be reached at 888-3590 or at editor@tvilletimes.com.
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