Sheriff’s deputies deliver pizzeria-heist suspect
By Melanie Davis
melanie@highcountrymedia.net

Watauga County Sheriff’s officers helped serve up an end to a hot pursuit across state lines following a pizza-shop robbery in Mountain City, Tenn. by slicing off a fleeing suspect’s escape route in Vilas.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the sheriff’s office received notice of a red Mitsubishi Eclipse giving chase from Johnson County, Tenn. toward the North Carolina border.

During the initial call, the number of suspects in the vehicle was unknown with at least one potentially in possession of a firearm.

The vehicle was believed to be the getaway car for an alleged robbery of the Pizza Palace on South Shady Street in Mountain City.

According to investigator Joey Norris of the Mountain City Police Department, during the robbery the suspect had stated he had a gun, physically assaulted a female employee of the Pizza Palace and taken approximately $200 in cash.

Members of the Watauga Sheriff’s Office, including command staff and members of the Special Operations Unit responded to the 3:30 call.

Capt. Jeff Virginia spotted the Mitsubishi traveling at a high rate of speed on U.S. 421 near the U.S. 321 intersection bound for Boone. Virginia and other officers turned and gave chase.

Officers said the vehicle crossed the center line, side-swiping a Dodge truck.

The Mitsubishi careened down an embankment, coming to rest in a creek some 30 feet below the road.

The suspect exited the vehicle, attempting to flee on foot. Before 4 p.m., deputies subdued the suspect, later identified as Steven Bolick, 23, of Sherwood Lane, Denver, N.C., approximately 300 feet from the wrecked vehicle.

At the time of the accident, Capt. Kelly Redmond was in the process of deploying spiked-strips approximately one quarter of a mile further down the road. Officers of the N.C. Highway Patrol and Boone Police Department were also notified and were setting up additional road blocks.

The NCHP investigated the vehicle accident. No information on the driver of the Dodge truck was available as of press time.

Bolick was transported to Watauga Medical Center by Watauga Medics for evaluation. Members of the Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department set up an environmental dike in the creek to absorb and contain any motor oil, fluids and gasoline from the Mitsubishi.

Bolick has been charged by the Watauga Sheriff’s Office as a fugitive from justice.

He has been charged by Mountain City police with robbery and assault. Extradition to Tennessee is expected, although Norris does not have an estimated date.

Officers of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office performed an Administrative Office of the Courts inquiry and discovered Bolick is also wanted by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of cyber stalking.

Bolick is currently being held in the Watauga County Detention Center.