03/28/2024

LeRoy Hardin

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LeRoy Hardin
Jordan Swett

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Native American male entered the Fresh Foods IGA Grocery Store in Bladenboro around 11:03 a.m. on Friday November 17, assaulted a clerk and fled with a cash box from the store.

The suspect was seen getting into a small gray car and fleeing the scene. Bladen County 911 was contacted and the Bladenboro Police Department of the incident was notified as well as surrounding law enforcement agencies.

Bladenboro Police Chief Chris Hunt observed the suspect vehicle on North Carolina Highway 211 and attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect vehicle fled and Chief Hunt pursued the suspects into Robeson County. The suspect vehicle finally stopped near Antioch Grocery off of Old Whiteville Road and the passenger fled on foot, according to Bladen County Sheriff Captain Jeff Singletary. Chief Hunt was able to affect the arrest of the driver.

Additional law enforcement resources arrived and a manhunt was conducted. K9’s and a helicopter were called in to assist with the search. At least one school in the area was placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure. Shortly after 4:30 p.m. the second suspect was apprehended without incident about one-half mile from Antioch Grocery. The cash box and all but $20 dollars have been recovered.

The two suspects have been identified as Jordan Swett, 20, of Rowland,  and Leroy Hardin, 19, of Lumberton. Both are in the Bladen County Detention Center with secured bonds of $502,000 and $500,000 respectively.

“Chief Hunt did an excellent job of pursing and apprehending the suspects in this case. Again the apprehension of the suspects in this case shows that close working relationships between law enforcement agencies can be beneficial for the safety of the citizens of our community and beyond” said Sheriff Jim McVicker of the arrest of the suspects in this case.

The Bladenboro Police Department was assisted by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, the Lumberton Police Department and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

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