RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – Raleigh police were called to the Super 8 motel at 2501 South Saunders Street at 9:14 p.m. Saturday for a man who was terrorizing people with a chainsaw. The suspect had already fled the scene in a dark-colored sedan before police, but they say that he “used a chainsaw to menace the victim.”
He also damaged a door at the Super 8 and one at the nearby Claremont Inn, also on South Saunders Street. According to Donna-Maria Harris, an RPD spokesperson, the incident report lists two victims, but doesn’t indicated if either was injured.
Police were able to locate and arrest Jacob Vanderburg, 27, in the 200 block of Mickelson Ridge Drive in Garner just before 1:30 p.m. Sunday. They confirmed his identity using surveillance camera footage from the hotel, which showed him wearing a baseball cap, long white coat, dark jeans, and white shoes. Vanderburg’s motives are not yet known, and Raleigh and Garner police are jointly investigating the sequence of events.
Garner Police officer Kevin Pena, stated that the man was also accused of breaking into the Lowes Home Improvement store in Garner and stealing items, one of which is believed to be the chainsaw used in the Raleigh incidents. Plywood was visible at the Lowes storefront on Sunday, presumably to temporarily replace the broken glass at the entrance.
Vanderburg has been charged with second degree kidnapping, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, going armed to the terror of the public, four counts of injury to real property, felony larceny of a firearm, and disorderly conduct. He is being held on $270,000 bond and is scheduled for a first appearance in court on Monday.
North Carolina’s “Stand Your Ground” law eliminates any duty to retreat and allows the use of deadly force under reasonable circumstances. Mr. Vanderburg is fortunate that he did not encounter an armed citizen who was in fear for their life or the lives of others during his little show-and-tell episode of “Look what I stole tonight!”.
