Suspected Car Thief Held On $10 Million Bond

Officials said Ricky Todd Carver evaded authorities six times in the past week.

"He's run from us, the Highway Patrol -- Ricky runs from everybody," said Capt. Bill Wrenn of the Durham County Sheriff's Office. "He's always had issues with driving, and over the years, he's had issues of stealing things that don't belong to him."

Wrenn said Carver was involved in a traffic accident around 4 a.m. Tuesday at T.W. Alexander Drive and South Alston Avenue. He said Carver was in a stolen vehicle.

Investigators said Carver then stole a pickup truck and ended up at the Hilltop Food Mart on Hardee Street.

"He ran out of the store when he figured that everybody was out there to get him and he ran into a wooded area behind the Village Bowling Alley and that's where they caught him," Wrenn said.

Investigators call the suspected car thief a career criminal.Carver's record shows charges that date back to 1981 and include crimes ranging from assault to larceny.

Carver was charged with numerous misdemeanor traffic violations in Durham and Orange counties. He is also charged with felony assault for hitting a canine unit member. The dog is considered a law enforcement officer.

Officials said Carver is suspected in other car thefts over the past several months.

He is being held at the Durham County Jail on $10 million bond.