NC fugitive wanted since 2020 discovered beneath trap door in small house

A fugitive who had been wanted on a number of felony charges was apparently captured in an unexpected way after authorities discovered a trap door beneath a rug in a North Carolina home.

Three people were arrested Monday in Mooresboro, North Carolina, after it was found that a resident of the home had been hiding as a fugitive from the law. Among those captured was Casey Brooks, 34, who was wanted by authorities, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Deputies arrived at a small house in the hopes of finding Brooks, who had been wanted by the authorities since 2020.

“Once at the residence, investigators were advised by numerous subjects at the residence that [the man] was not there and they hadn’t seen him, even though evidence at the residence proved otherwise,” according to the sheriff's office.

“Investigators conducted a search of the residence. During the search, investigators located a trap door in the floor of a room concealed under a rug. [The 34-year-old] was located under the residence.”

Though Brooks did not put up a fight when he was arrested, the two other individuals arrested — 57-year-old Danny Brooks and 23-year-old Jessica Green — were reportedly charged with resisting officers. Danny lived in the house Brooks was found in, and Green was apparently visiting, though no details were provided as to why she was visiting.

Bond for Brooks was set at $95,000, and he now faces the following charges:

• Possession of firearm by felon (one count);
• Possession of methamphetamine (one count);
• Felony fleeing/eluding arrest with a motor vehicle (two counts);
• Misdemeanor fleeing/eluding arrest with a motor vehicle (one count);
• Resisting an officer (three counts);
• Driving while license revoked (two counts);
• Operating a vehicle without insurance (two counts);
• Having fictitious registration plates (two counts);
• Having no vehicle registration (two counts).

During a search of the home, the authorities said they found Brooks in an attic area. While deputies attempted to move into the attic, Brooks apparently broke through the wall, jumped out of the attic, and fled on foot.

While there was an effort on the part of deputies from Rutherford County and Cleveland County to find him, they were apparently unsuccessful in doing so.

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