A 21-year-old man is in custody under a $1 million bond after a weekend incident involving an armed robbery, auto theft, a house fire and the shooting death of a dog in the Franklin County K9 unit.
William Darius Eichelberger was charged with nine felonies. He originally was placed under a $250,000 bond, but that amount was increased to $1 million after a court appearance on Monday, according to information from the Granville County Sheriff’s Office. No law enforcement officers were injured, but a dog was struck and killed by gunfire as events played out.
No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident. The Granville County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident along with the NC State Bureau of Investigation.
Deputies from Granville County Sheriff’s Office, along with other local law enforcement officials, responded to a report of an armed robbery involving the theft of a motor vehicle on Saturday afternoon about 3:15 p.m.
The car and the suspect, described as a black male about 6-foot-2 wearing a gray sweatshirt and black shorts, were later seen in the Antioch community of Granville County. The vehicle was recovered, but the suspect fled on foot.
Law enforcement officers canvassed the area into Saturday evening, but did not locate the individual, according to a press statement from Terry Hobgood, Granville County public information officer.
Sunday morning, sheriff’s deputies and fire department officials responded to a report of a suspicious fire in the Antioch community and upon arrival, determined that the suspect – possibly still armed – may be hiding in the crawlspace under the house.
Granville County requested assistance from Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team, which came under gunfire as it attempted to determine if the suspect still was in the crawlspace. Franklin County deputies returned fire and then retreated to a safe position, according to the press statement. Additional help from other law enforcement agencies was requested, including the State Bureau of Investigation.
A crisis negotiator from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene and made contact with the suspect, who was still under the house. The suspect did come out from under the house, at which time he was taken into custody and transported by EMS for medical attention. His injuries were minor, however, and medical professionals released him into the custody of law enforcement.
An assault-style rifle was recovered from underneath the residence.
Following is the list of charges against Eichelberger:
- Assault on a law enforcement agency K9, NCGS 14-163.1(A1)
- Assault on law enforcement officers w/firearm, NCGS 14-34.5(A)
- Breaking and/or entering, NCGS 14-54(A), two counts
- Breaking and entering a motor vehicle, NCGS 14-56
- Larceny after breaking and entering, NCGS 14-72(B)(2)
- Possession stolen firearm, NCGS 14-71.1
- Robbery with dangerous weapon, NCGS 14-87
- Possession of stolen goods/property, NCGS 14-71.1
- Larceny of motor vehicle, NCGS 14-72(A)
