A man suspected of breaking and entering at a residence in Lake Adger development and stealing multiple vehicles while fleeing law enforcement has turned himself in, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Jacob Watts turned himself in late Thursday night, more than a day after he eluded law enforcement following a vehicle chase in Mill Spring.The Polk County Sheriff’s Office plans to&bsp;provide more details on the arrest and the charges facing Watts at a press conference Friday morning at 11 a.m.&bsp;
Watts, 21, of Rutherford County, was being sought by Polk, Rutherford and Henderson County sheriff offices. Watts was considered armed and dangerous after reports yesterday that he stole a 32-caliber handgun. Polk Sheriffs officers say they believe a gun was in the last vehicle Watts stole yesterday morning.
Watts allegedly stole three vehicles during the incidents. He was in a stolen vehicle when he allegedly stole items from the Lake Adger home then fled from authorities on foot. Sometime during Wednesday night, Watts allegedly stole a Toyota Landcruiser from the Brights Creek development, which was found on I-26 just in Henderson County yesterday morning out of gasoline. Henderson County issued a BOLO (be on the look-out) for a stolen vehicle out of Dana, which was taken from a residence nearby where the Toyota Landcruiser was abandoned.
The stolen vehicle out of Dana is a 1996 gray Mazda Millenia, four door sedan with NC license plate WTS 1483.
Polk County Sheriff Donald Hill says Watts is an ex-U.S. Marine and authorities knew it would be difficult to locate him once he got into the woods and mountains. Watts is now wanted on several larcenies as recent crimes in Rutherford County also bare Watts method of breaking and entering, which is to cut phone lines and disable security. According to officers, Watts stole a flat screen television from the Lake Adger home and flat screen televisions have also been stolen out of Rutherford County with phone lines cut.
The chase began Wednesday around 12:56 p.m. after several Polk County deputies responded to 444 Peninsula Drive in Mill Spring to an active breaking and entering call. The caretaker of the residence noticed someone inside the residence and witnessed the suspect carrying property from the home to his vehicle, according to the police report. The caretaker called 911 and while deputies were responding, the caretaker followed the suspect onto Hwy. 9 where Deputy Ronnie Russell spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it.
The suspect failed to stop and lead deputies on a vehicle chase out Silver Creek Road ending inside Brights Creek Golf Course and development. Watts then ran on foot into a heavily wooded area.
The Polk County Sheriffs Office was assisted in the manhunt by the N.C. Highway Patrol, Rutherford County Sheriffs Office, Henderson County Sheriffs Office, the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission and Buncombe County Sheriffs Office.

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