Three detained after home invasion, high-speed chase

A Nash County sheriff's deputy spotted the suspect vehicle at Watson Seed Road and N.C. Highway 48 around 3 a.m., state troopers said. The driver sped away and led authorities on a pursuit that criss-crossed Nash, Franklin and Halifax counties.

The suspects' vehicle hit stop sticks put out by state troopers at Melton Bridge and Fishing Creek roads around 3:45 a.m., deflating three tires, troopers said.

Troopers took Michael Christopher Wilkins, 31, of Hollister, Rodney O'Neal Lynch, 33, of Enfield, and Sharonda Denise Hendricks, 23, of Medoc, into custody without further incident.

Troopers charged Wilkins, who was driving, with two counts of felony speeding to elude arrest and one count each of driving with a revoked license, a stop-sign violation and reckless driving. The Halifax County Sheriff's Office also charged him with driving 100 mph in a 55 mph zone.

The Halifax County Sheriff's Office is expected to file charges in connection with the home invasion.

Detectives said that two people were held at gunpoint during the invasion and sustained minor injuries. The victims identified the three suspects.

The investigation is ongoing.

Wilkins and Lynch both have criminal records dating to the mid-1990s, according to state Department of Correction records. DOC records show that both men served prison time for common-law robberies committed on May 9, 2005, and 17, 2005, in Nash County.

Wilkins has been convicted in five other common-law robberies and in three assaults, including one on a handicapped person, DOC records show. He also has 20 convictions for passing worthless checks.

Lynch has additional convictions for breaking-and-entering and stealing dogs, according to DOC records.

Hendricks has convictions for drug violations and trespassing from 2003 and 2004.