ASHEBORO N.C. – More than half a dozen police vehicles speeding east on U.S. Hwy 64 drew the attention of drivers across Randolph County resulting in multiple news tips and calls.
At around 2 p.m. on Wednesday November 1st, drivers and residents noticed approximately 9-10 police vehicles responding in a group with lights and sirens going heading East on U.S. Hwy 64.
In a video shared to the ‘What’s happening Asheboro?”‘ group on Facebook, nine Police and other vehicles can be seen traveling down US Hwy 64 E near the Randolph Mall.
The large number of vehicles resulted in multiple news tips, messages, and phone calls to news outlets and law enforcement in Randolph County from curious residents and drivers. Some of those tips and calls identified several of the vehicles as belonging to the Cary Police Department.
According to Sgt. Alexander, Public Information Officer with the Cary Police Department, members of the Cary Police S.W.A.T. units were training nearby and had to be recalled quickly, leading to the response.
The Cary Police Department says they are unable to release any further information at this time.
UPDATE 11/1/23 7 P.M. – This evening we received the following press release from the Cary Police Department. As this incident occurred outside of Randolph County, we will be posting the full press release below.
NEWS RELEASE
Cary Police Make an Arrest for Threatening Active Shooter Situation
On Wednesday, November 1, 2023, the Cary Police Department received notification from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, alerting us to an individual threatening to become an active shooter against children. The safety and well-being of the public are our utmost priority, and we are committed to taking all necessary actions to ensure their protection.
Cary investigators determined the threat to be credible and began a comprehensive investigation working in conjunction with our local public safety partners including Raleigh PD and Cary Fire, and our regional assets from the FBI. The Wake Regional SWAT Team was immediately activated and recalled from a training session in Jackson Springs, NC. Wake Regional SWAT is a multi-agency team comprised of officers from the Cary, Morrisville, and Holly Springs Police Departments.
Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of our dedicated investigators, Wake Regional SWAT Team members, and our public safety partners, the situation has been successfully contained, and the suspect has been taken into custody. The suspect, KEVIN EDRAL DOUGLAS, 46 of Cary, was located and taken into custody without incident at the Extended Stay America on Weston Blvd in Cary. He faces charges relating to Cyber Stalking and Communicating Threats. We are grateful for their bravery and the professionalism they exhibited throughout this investigation.
We want to extend our gratitude to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for their vigilance and quick reporting of the threat, which undoubtedly played a crucial role in resolving this situation. We also wish to thank the US Attorney’s Office Eastern District and the Wake County District Attorney for their assistance. This case highlights the importance of notifying law enforcement of situations like this and just how public safety agencies should collaborate to ensure the protection of the community.
Public safety remains our top priority, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety and security of our community. Anyone who believes they may have information that can assist this investigation is asked to contact Crimestoppers at www.p3tips.com/1242 for anonymous reporting options or call (919) 460-4636. We are in this together, and our collective efforts are vital in safeguarding our community.