Chainsaw-wielding assault suspect arrested in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (TCD) --

Raleigh Police on Sunday asked for the public’s help identifying and locating a suspect wanted for attempted kidnapping, aggravated assault and damage to property. Hours later they announced an arrest in the case.

Raleigh Police officers responded to a disturbance call on South Saunders Street at 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 20.

A suspect “was using a chainsaw to menace the victim,” according to police. The suspect was described as wearing a dark green baseball cap, a long white coat, dark jeans, and white shoes. He fled in a dark-colored passenger vehicle.

Raleigh Police received multiple reports about a man with a chainsaw along South Saunders Street. The suspect allegedly stopped his car at different locations, got out and revved the chainsaw. Police said the suspect stopped at three motels near South Saunders Street.

A Super 8 motel clerk called police after seeing a man with “a saw in his hand.” One witness told police the suspect approached him to ask for tobacco, then turned the chainsaw on.

WRAL-TV reported that Garner Police confirmed a chainsaw had been stolen from a local Lowe’s Home Improvement store that had been broken into.

WNCN-TV reports investigators said the suspect drove to the Lowe’s in Garner and broke the front doors “and stole another chainsaw from that store."

It was unclear how many chainsaws were involved in the series of incidents based on reports.

Sunday, Raleigh Police announced the arrest of Jacob Vanderburg. Vanderburg, 27, was 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, WNCN reports.

Police said Vanderburg allegedly kidnapped and assaulted a woman, but police did not disclose any details other than “someone heard her screams and called 911,” WNCN reports.

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