Robert Kays
A Robbinsville man – who led lawmen on a multi-county, two-state chase after stealing a Graham County Sheriff’s Office Humvee and crashing it into a local pharmacy – in May 2021 has been arrested again.
Robert “Bobby” Kays, of Robbinsville, is accused in a couple of breaking/entering cases on Spring Hill Road, which is off Long Branch Road southeast of Robbinsville town limits.
On Dec. 28, Graham County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a breaking/entering in progress on Spring Hill Road. Deputies conducted an investigation which led them to Robert Kays, who was identified as a suspect. He was booked into the Graham County Jail.
Further investigation determined Kays as a suspect in a second breaking/entering case on Spring Hill Road. Kays was charged with two counts of breaking and entering, and two counts of first-degree trespass.
On May 8, Kays was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official; two counts of reckless driving; two counts of fleeing/eluding arrest with a motor vehicle; resisting a public officer; larceny of a motor vehicle; breaking and entering a motor vehicle; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; injury to real property; driving while license revoked; and driving left of center. He allegedly stole the Graham County Sheriff’s Office’s Humvee, which was kept in a locked lot adjacent to the precinct.
Security cameras reviewed later saw a man fitting Kays’ description gain access to the lot and drive off in the Humvee, before trying to get gas at the neighboring 76 Food Mart and soon smashing through the front entrance to Robbinsville Pharmacy. A chase ensued, which rolled through Cherokee County and ended just shy of the Macon County line. Four vehicles were damaged in the pursuit.
Kays tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, marijuana, fentanyl and alcohol in his system following his capture. Kays has since told officials he has no recollection of what transpired May 8.
In an unrelated case on Dec. 17, Graham County sheriff’s deputies responded to a breaking/entering on Cody Street in the town of Robbinsville.
After processing the scene for fingerprints, damage, missing property, etc., deputies were able to recover some of the stolen property.
Deputies identified two suspects, where they recovered more of the stolen items.
Patrick Burchfield and Frannie Gibson were taken into custody and charged with numerous crimes related to the breaking/entering.
The investigation is ongoing and new leads are being pursued.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.