Davie suspect properly ID’d after giving brother’s name

Published 10:09 am Friday, April 21, 2023

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By Elisabeth Strillacci

The Salisbury Post

An Advance man who turned out to be a fugitive and who was arrested Wednesday on a litany of charges can now add identity theft to the list, for using his own brother’s name.

According to Spencer Police Chief Michael File, Luther Alan Stanley gave police his brother’s name of Robert Douglas Stanley when he was initially arrested. He was correctly identified after fingerprints and tattoo information was researched, and it is likely he gave a false name because he was a fugitive from justice, having escaped from Davidson County sheriff’s deputies in March.

On Thursday morning, Stanley was served with the Davidson County warrant and Spencer Detective T.C. Honeycutt, who made the initial arrest, added an additional charge of felony identity theft for using his brother’s name.

Luther Stanley was initially arrested Wednesday after a shoplifting attempt at Food Lion. When police arrived at the store, they were told Stanley had fled on foot after trying to steal more than $250 in groceries.

He was arrested within 15 minutes.

Review of security camera footage showed Stanley was driving a car that had been stolen from Davidson County earlier in the morning. Stanley allegedly used the victim’s credit cards to make purchases in Woodleaf prior to coming to Spencer.

Stanley is also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, obtaining property by false pretenses, identity theft, felony possession of schedule I, felony assault on a law enforcement agency animal, larceny, resisting arrest, and various additional misdemeanor charges.  He was originally held on a $50,000 secured bond and remains in custody.

Spencer Police, Salisbury PD, Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, and East Spencer PD assisted during the foot pursuit and subsequent arrest.