A Raleigh man is in jail on $1 million bond following an armed robbery in which several people in South Weldon were robbed this morning.

Investigation continues into the robbery which occurred shortly after 5 a.m. outside a house in South Weldon, Detective James Matthews of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said.

Officers from the sheriff’s office and Weldon Police Department responded to the call. Weldon Officer M. Page observed a vehicle fitting the description given in the robbery report and followed it. He attempted to stop the vehicle which continued to Roanoke Rapids. Matthews said Roanoke Rapids officers joined the pursuit and the vehicle crashed at the intersection of Roanoke Avenue and Hinson Street, nearly toppling a utility pole.

All the people in the car got out and fled and, several minutes later, a man identified as Jereme  Eugene Mackey, 22, was seen running.

Mackey was apprehended and after a positive identification charged with the following counts: One count of robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault by pointing a gun, one count of second degree kidnapping, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of resisting a public officer.

Matthews also discovered Mackey had an outstanding warrant from Wake County for resisting an officer and served the warrant.

Matthews said the second degree kidnapping charge deals with the initial robbery of the people, who he described as innocent bystanders. He said property was recovered and the case remains under investigation.

Mackey has an April 6 court date.

Matthews declined to elaborate, but said the high bond was not associated with the outstanding warrant.