First Posted: 1/15/2009

ROWLAND -- Some unwanted publicity ruined a Rowland man's New Year's Eve.
Instead of celebrating the arrival of 2003, Joseph Junior Revels, 25, of 1352 Brayboy Road, found himself behind bars after surrendering to police after a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to Rowland Police Chief Daniel Bradsher.
Eric Clayton Locklear, 22, of 555 Midway Road, is also charged with the armed robbery of the Quick Stop on U.S. 501 in Rowland on Dec. 20.
Bradsher said that Revels told police he surrendered because his photograph was on the front page of The Robesonian on Tuesday and that he did not feel free to leave his house. Locklear was arrested at his home shortly after Revels surrendered, Bradsher said.
Each is jailed under $25,000 bail.
Bradsher said both Revels and Locklear eluded law enforcement officers on Dec. 20 after a high-speed car chase that led them into the Maxton area.
Bradsher said the two men fled the store in a 2001 white Chevrolet Malibu owned by Revels' girlfriend. Sheriff's deputies saw the car on N.C. 83 and chased it to Maxton on N.C. 130. The two men escaped on foot in woods off of N.C. 130 at the Dunn Mobile Home Park after a tire blew out on the Malibu.
Bradsher said that $100 and the gun that was used in the robbery were recovered from the vehicle that day.
Bradsher said that a store clerk reported shortly before 5 p.m. that two men, one with a handgun, entered the store and demanded money. No one was injured in the robbery.