Manhunt for armed, dangerous suspect shuts down part of Pisgah National Forest

Law enforcement shut down access to part of Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, NC on July 23, 2017 during a manhunt for a dangerous suspect.

Phillip Michael Stroupe II, 38, of Weaverville, NC is considered armed and dangerous by authorities. He has outstanding warrants in Buncombe County for kidnapping and has pending charges in Yancey County, according to the sheriff’s office.

Roads and trails on the Pisgah Ranger District east of Highway 276 and south of the Blue Ridge Parkway were closed, according to a news release from the National Forest Service. Visitors to the forest near Asheville should avoid the area which includes trails and roads in the Mills River area, Yellow Gap Road, Turkey Pen Gap, Trace Ridge and Wash Creek.

Highway 276 also was closed from the Pisgah Ranger District office to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Attractions along that stretch of road were closed, including Sliding Rock, Cradle of Forestry, Looking Glass Falls and Pisgah ranger station visitor center.

Stroupe is described as a white man, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall with a small build, shaved head, large neck tattoo under his chin. He has a history of violence and resisting law enforcement, according to the sheriff’s office.

At one point, Stroupe allegedly left his vehicle and stole a mountain bike while pointing a handgun at the bike’s owner, according to the sheriff’s office.

Cite…

 

Update July 27, 2017

Manhunt for Phillip Stroupe comes to an end

Stroupe, accused of stealing a mountain bike at gunpoint before leading authorities on a 6-day manhunt that closed parts of Pisgah National Forest in Western North Carolina, has finally been apprehended.

The search ended around 1:30 A.M. this morning when Stroupe was picked up by authorities on Highway 70 west of Marion, North Carolina, about an hour and fifteen minutes northeast of where the search began.

 

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