HAYESVILLE, NC – Clay County Detention Center work crew inmate allegedly stole a vehicle on April 27, 2021 and law enforcement continues to search for him.
Around 4:30 p.m. on April 27, inmate, Roy Edward Lockaby Jr., 25, of Cherokee County, stole a car from a Hayesville Post Office with the owner inside. The owner reported his keys, firearm, and identification were inside the car as well.
Lockaby allegedly sped away from the scene at a high rate of speed traveling west toward Cherokee County. He was in Clay County for probation violations.
Courtesy of Clay County Sheriff Office
On and off-duty deputies responded to try and apprehend Lockaby. North Carolina State Patrol and surrounding county law enforcement were informed of the situation and to be on the lookout for the suspect and vehicle. The car was located in the Martin’s Creek area in Cherokee County.
Clay and Cherokee law enforcement county to work together to find Lockaby. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at (828)389-6354 or the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at (828)837-2521.
See April 28 statement from Clay County Sheriff Office:
On April 27, 2021, at approximately 4:30 p.m., an inmate of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center assigned to the work crew stole a vehicle from the Hayesville Post Office while the vehicle’s owner was inside. The owner of the vehicle reported that the vehicle’s keys, his personal firearm, cash, and identification were inside the vehicle at the time of the theft.
The inmate, identified as Roy Edward Lockaby Jr., 25, of Cherokee County, left the scene at a high rate of speed traveling west toward Cherokee County. Lockaby was being housed in the Clay County Detention Center for probation violations out of Cherokee County.
All on and off-duty deputies responded to locate the suspect. Surrounding counties and North Carolina Highway Patrol were officially notified to be on the lookout for Lockaby and the stolen vehicle. Early in the investigation, confirmation was made that Lockaby had fled into Cherokee County and within an hour, the vehicle was located in the Martins Creek area of Cherokee County.
Clay County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to work with Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office to locate Lockaby at this time.
If you have any information regarding his whereabouts since 5 p.m. yesterday, please contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at (828)389-6354 or the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at (828)837-2521.