What started as a simple traffic stop on Concord Highway turned into a full-blown chase and manhunt in Monroe last Thursday, ending with two arrests and what police say is a major break in a sprawling pharmacy burglary spree across several states.
According to a Facebook post from the Monroe Police Department, a sergeant spotted a black BMW that had been linked to a recent pharmacy burglary in Concord and tried to pull it over for an investigative stop. Instead of stopping, the driver hit the gas. Officers later recovered discarded prescription medication near the scene, and investigators say the suspects are believed to be tied to more than 100 pharmacy break-ins in multiple states.
As the BMW came off Concord Highway and sped away, officers deployed tire deflation devices to slow it down, police said. Once the car was disabled, several occupants bailed out and ran into nearby brush. That is when the tech and the dogs came out: drone operators and K-9 teams were called in to sweep the area, and two people were eventually taken into custody. “This arrest highlights the effectiveness of strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the use of technology and specialized resources to apprehend dangerous offenders,” Sgt. Rhett Bolen said in the department’s statement.
How The Chase Unfolded
Monroe officers say the sergeant first noticed the BMW as it came onto Concord Highway and tried to initiate an investigative stop, but the driver took off instead. After spike strips were used to deflate the tires and slow the vehicle, multiple occupants jumped out and ran into the woods. With drones overhead and K-9 units tracking on the ground, law enforcement searched the area until deputies were able to take two people into custody. The Union County Sheriff's Office, which notes its trained K-9 units and public affairs division on its website, assisted Monroe detectives during the search.
Police identified the two arrested as 26-year-old Tomas Wesley and 25-year-old Rashaad Wilson, both of Bishopville, South Carolina. Investigators say they recovered prescription medications believed to have been stolen during a pharmacy break-in. The department’s post states the pair are suspected of involvement in more than 100 pharmacy burglaries across several states and that additional charges are expected as Monroe detectives coordinate with other jurisdictions. The investigation is still active, and officers have asked anyone with tips or video related to the case to come forward.
Multi-State Pharmacy Rings And Federal Interest
In recent months, federal prosecutors and the DEA have taken down several organized groups accused of burglarizing pharmacies across state lines, seizing tens of thousands of dosage units and securing lengthy federal sentences. The U.S. Department of Justice has detailed multiple multi-state prosecutions, highlighting how local thefts of controlled substances can quickly attract federal attention.
Monroe provided a contact for tips: Lt. Morgan Malone ([email protected]; 704-238-3836) and said detectives are working closely with law enforcement partners in other jurisdictions as the probe continues. Formal charges have not yet been publicly announced.
