Cabarrus Sheriff's investigators nab burglars who planned kidnapping

Saturday, December 13, 2008 3:09 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Staff Report

HARRISBURG — Responding quickly to a prowler call, a Cabarrus County sheriff's deputy flushed a burglary suspect from some bushes and chased him down early this morning.

Deputy M.P. Elliott also found two rolls of duct tape under a pried window, and sheriff's officials say the two suspects intended to tie up the residents of the home and extort money from them.

Arrested around 3:30 a.m. today near the home at 10211 Culpepper Court was Darrell Keith McGuire, 24, of 878 Groff St., Concord.

Arrested around 10 a.m. at the Groff Street home was Timothy Ray Thacker, 23, of 450 Railroad Drive N.W., Concord.

Both are charged with first-degree burglary, felonious conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping and felonious possession of burglary tools. McGuire also is charged with resisting an officer.

Officials placed both in the Cabarrus County Jail under $300,000 secured bond.

According to a press release from the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office, the homeowner on Culpepper Court called 911 about a prowler at 3:31 a.m. Officials did not identify the residents of the house.

Deputy Elliott arrived four minutes later and "observed a suspect hiding within some bushes in front of the residence."

The man ran from Elliott toward David Lane, and after a brief chase, the deputy caught him.

Deputies identified the suspect as McGuire and found a vehicle registered to McGuire parked on David Lane.

Back at the house, investigators found a window had been pried open where Elliott spotted the suspect, and they also found two rolls of duct tape on the ground near the window.

A search of the area also turned up unspecified "burglary tools," and deputies soon identified a second suspect. Detectives arrested Thacker at McGuire's Groff Street home.

During the investigation, detectives "discovered the suspects' intent to forcibly enter the residence," bind and detain the residents and "then attempt to extort money from their personal financial institution prior to releasing them," the press release said.

Detective T.D. Burchett did most of the follow-up detective work, a department official said.

According to the Cabarrus sheriff's Web site, McGuire had been arrested once before in Cabarrus. On Aug. 4, 2002, he was charged with driving while impaired, failure to stop after an accident involving property damage and possession of a schedule II controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

The outcome of those charges was not immediately available.

The Web site shows multiple arrests for Thacker dating back to June 2002, when he was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and possession of pyrotechnics.

Since then, he was charged:

- Oct. 6, 2004, with misdemeanor stalking, driving with a revoked license, failure to appear on a charge of driving with a revoked license, running a red light and no liability insurance.

- July 27, 2005, with misdemeanor larceny and breaking or entering a motor vehicle.

- On Aug. 29, 2005, with driving after underage drinking (two counts), breaking or entering a motor vehicle, misdemeanor probation violation, and underage drinking.

- On Sept. 19, 2005, underage possession of alcohol, driving after underage drinking and misdemeanor probation violation.

- On Jan. 5, 2008, failure to appear on charge of driving with a revoked license.

Sheriff's Office records indicate Thacker already has spent time in state prison.