High-speed chase ends with rescue and arrest in Unicoi

A high-speed pursuit in Unicoi County ended in dramatic fashion as police rescued a kidnapped woman and captured a robbery suspect wanted in Winston-Salem. The incident occurred at approximately 6 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 8, at the Black Diamond gas station off Highway 173 in Unicoi County, Tennessee. A man accused of armed robbery and kidnapping in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was apprehended in Unicoi County early Monday after a high-speed chase. Chief Deputy Frank Rogers of the Unicoi County Sheriff's Office provided details about the incident, emphasizing the cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies in ensuring the victim's safety and the suspect's capture. Just before 6 a.m. on Jan. 8, the Unicoi County Sheriff's Office was alerted by Winston-Salem police about an armed robbery and kidnapping. "They provided the sheriff's office with a vehicle description, the name of the victim and indicated the suspect was headed in our direction," Rogers said. Deputies identified the suspect vehicle at the Black Diamond gas station off Highway 173. As officers approached, the suspect fled, initiating a pursuit that moved onto I-26 East. "The deputy in pursuit requested authorization to use a PIT maneuver," Rogers explained, referring to a controlled tactic used to stop fleeing vehicles. "It was granted by the supervisor, and the maneuver successfully crashed the vehicle." The driver, identified as 32-year-old D'Angelo Shimon Toomer, was taken into custody. According to Rogers, the victim, a female, was found tied up in the backseat of her own car. Both Toomer and the victim were taken to Johnson City Medical Center, where they were medically cleared. During the pursuit, Toomer threw the firearm used in the robbery out of the vehicle, Rogers said. Deputies sought assistance from the Greene County Sheriff's Office, whose canine unit recovered the discarded weapon. Winston-Salem police detectives traveled to Unicoi County to continue their investigation. They transported the victim and her vehicle back to North Carolina, Rogers said. Toomer is being held in Unicoi County on charges of aggravated kidnapping, evading arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm during a felony. He is awaiting extradition to North Carolina, where he will face additional charges. His bond is set at $50,000. Rogers noted that Toomer has an extensive criminal history, including several aggravated robbery convictions in other states. Authorities believe the motive behind the crime was financial desperation. "There's no domestic connection between him and the victim," Rogers said. "The victim recognized him as a regular customer at her store." Rogers credited the success of the operation to the collaboration between law enforcement agencies, including the Unicoi County Sheriff's Office, Erwin Police Department, Winston-Salem Police Department, Greene County Sheriff's Office, and Tennessee Highway Patrol. "The success of the case and the safety of the victim is due to the fact that we all worked together as a team," said Rogers. "That's the name of the game." Toomer will remain in custody in Unicoi County until arrangements are made for his extradition to North Carolina.