The Gaston Police Department announced the arrest of an individual it had been seeking in the theft of an SUV.

The theft occurred Oct. 28 at about 12:15 p.m., according to an initial post that day on the department’s Facebook. The post stated that the individual seen in a series of security camera stills had taken a 2006 Toyota Highlander at the 7-Eleven convenience store on Highway 321

The department announced the arrest of Joseph Kibler, 30, on Nov. 2, stating that he is charged with driving with a suspended license, failure to stop for blue lights, reckless driving, grand larceny of a motor vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“On 11/01/2022 officers while on patrol observed the Toyota Highlander on US 321 and Mack St, where the officer attempted to stop the vehicle,” the department posted. “The driver accelerated the vehicle attempting to flee, but after several miles the suspect stopped the vehicle in the Town of Swansea and surrendered.”

The department stated that he was arrested without further incident and then taken to the Lexington County Detention Center. 

Community input helped lead to the arrest, according to the department.

“Shortly after the original vehicle theft, [officers] received several messages on the identity of the suspect,” it posted. “Officers received positive confirmation that the suspect was Joseph Kibler, and officers began attempting to locate him.”