The suspect in a Friday night breaking and entering case in Weldon now faces rape charges in Roanoke Rapids.
Captain Andy Jackson said Antwaan Deandre Clanton, 38, who was released from prison Thursday, faces charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sex offense and first-degree kidnapping of a woman who stopped on the campus of Halifax Regional Medical Center about 1 p.m. Friday to rest on a long interstate trip.
Jackson said the man, who would be later identified as Clanton, forcibly made the victim get in the back seat of her car and drove her to a location where he allegedly forcibly raped her.
Afterward, he the drove to an area believed to be in Carolina Crossroads where he got out of the car.
The victim called 911 and found her way to the Weldon Police Department where Roanoke Rapids detectives Jeff Baggett, Charles Vaught and John Taylor, advanced criminal enforcement agent, began an investigation with help from Captain James Avens and Officer C. Coley of the Weldon Police Department.
Investigation included processing the car where physical and forensic evidence was collected as well as a physical examination of the victim, who Jackson said had visible signs of being assaulted.
With the victim's description, the officers were able to allegedly tie Clanton, who has a lengthy criminal, to the crime and charged him today after bringing him to Roanoke Rapids from the Halifax County Jail, where he was being held for the Weldon crime on $31,000 bond.
A magistrate planned to set a $250,000 bond for the rape.
Jackson said he believed Clanton just happened to be at HRMC when he saw the woman resting and most likely after the rape wandered the area and allegedly broke into a house in Weldon later.
He said the victim is doing well. “She is remarkably a very strong person.”
Lieutenant George Evans of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office had been looking for Clanton around 10:30 p.m. Friday for a breaking and entering that occurred last May. Evans spotted Clanton walking on Country Club Road and carrying two white bags.
When Evans attempted to stop and arrest him, Clanton ran down Twelfth Street behind a church.
Deputies B.C. Griffin and J.M. Clark, along with Sergeant Chris Buffaloe of the Weldon Police Department and state Highway Patrol contained the area.
Buffaloe ran a track with his dog Tyson, who followed the trail to find Clanton in a wooded area. Tyson also led officers to the church were Clanton had allegedly dropped the bags. The bags contained several items believed to be stolen, including a credit card belonging to the victim of the Friday night break-in.
Consultation with Detective James Matthews indicated the the home had been broken into recently. Most of the property was recovered.
Clanton was charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of stolen goods and property, injury to real property and resisting a public officer.
He was jailed on $31,000 bond and is awaiting a July 20 court date.
