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Charges filed related to break-ins
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Published: July 9, 2009
A Statesville man who was released from prison in late March is back in jail, charged with breaking into three houses and a Statesville business.
John Christopher Gatton, 40, was arrested on charges of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and possession of stolen goods.
The N.C. Highway Patrol also charged Gatton with reckless driving, speeding, resisting a public officer and failure to stop at a stop sign.
Gatton is charged with breaking into a muffler business in Statesville, as well as three residential break-ins in Iredell County.
Warrants for two home break-ins and the muffler business break-in were on file Tuesday, and members of the Iredell County Sheriff's Office Warrant Squad were attempting to locate Gatton.
Early Tuesday afternoon, a state trooper tried to stop a vehicle on Hickory Highway near Shady Rest Road for a traffic violation, and a short chase ensued.
After the car came to a stop, the driver jumped and ran on foot. He was able to elude authorities by catching a ride, sheriff's deputies said.
A few minutes after the chase, a homeowner on Hickory Highway discovered his house had been broken into and many items, from clothes to electronic equipment, had been stolen.
Inside the abandoned car the trooper chased was all of the stolen property, said Detective Sgt. Errin Jenkins of the sheriff's office.
A warrant was added for that break-in.
Early Tuesday night, Statesville officers spotted Gatton in South Statesville. After a short foot chase, they took him into custody, Chief Tom Anderson said.
Gatton was then booked on all of the charges and is being held in the Iredell County Detention Center in lieu of a $51,000 bond.
Gatton was released from the N.C. Department of Corrections in March after a 2002 conviction on breaking and entering charges.
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