An update from the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department:

 

On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported burglary at K&A Auto Sales located in the Three Point community of Whitley County.  The investigation revealed multiple suspects had forced entry inside the business and stole items from inside as well as multiple vehicles from the car lot. While Deputies were on the scene of the K & A Auto Sales burglary, one of the stolen vehicles was observed on Prewitt Bend Road, where a subject fled from Whitley County Police Chief Brandon Prewitt.  The stolen vehicle fled north on US 25 and a vehicle pursuit was initiated but after a short distance was discontinued due to public safety concerns. 

 

The stolen vehicle was soon located abandoned on a roadway in McCreary County and witnesses on the scene directed officers to the suspect’s location.  Deputies from both the McCreary County Sheriff’s Office and the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect off of KY HWY 1045. The suspect fled from deputies on foot into a wooded area but was ultimately taken into custody.

 

Before the discovery of the K&A Auto Sales burglary, Officers from the Williamsburg Police Department were patrolling near exit 15 Express Mart, when Officer Elijah Hunter observed suspects attempting to force entry into the store.  The suspects fled in a vehicle from the scene and a vehicle pursuit began.  The vehicle pursuit was discontinued at the Tennessee state line. The two cases appeared to be related and a joint investigation was initiated.

 

In an attempt to locate the remaining stolen vehicles taken from K&A Auto Sales, those vehicles were posted on the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office social media page where we requested the public’s help in locating these vehicles. Through information gained from the public’s assistance, the additional stolen vehicles were located and recovered in Whitley County. The recovery of one of the stolen vehicles led to additional information which resulted in the execution of a search warrant at a local motel in Williamsburg. Multiple suspects were detained and later arrested in connection to the K&A Auto Sales burglary and vehicle thefts.

 

Rocky Brady, age 33, of Salisbury North Carolina, was charged with burglary 3rd degree, possession of burglary tools, and receiving stolen property- auto (3cts).

Jeremy Motley, age 33,  of Salisbury North Carolina, was charged with Fleeing or Evading Police 1st deg, burglary 3rd deg, and receiving stolen property-auto.

Kristan Starliper, age 34, of Kannapolis North Carolina, was charged with complicity to burglary 3rd, the complicity of receiving stolen property- auto, and possession of burglary tools.

Brittney Fraley, age 36, of Salisbury North Carolina, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of burglary tools, and facilitation to receive stolen property-auto.

 

The subjects were lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.