Robert Rhinehardt
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police have arrested a man suspected of robbing and kidnapping a veterinarian from a west Charlotte animal hospital.
The Violent Criminal Apprehension Team arrested Robert Rhinehardt, 53, early Thursday. Investigators said he was staying in the Charlotte Express Inn near Freedom Drive and Interstate 85, and they said evidence left there helped connect him to the robbery and kidnapping.
Rhinehardt is accused of going to Freedom Animal Hospital on Friday afternoon and robbing the veterinary hospital at gunpoint. Authorities said he then kidnapped Dr. Margurette Straley at gunpoint, forced her into the company car and tried to make her withdraw money from her personal account at an ATM.
Straley was released a short time later without being harmed and without having any money taken from her account.
Rhinehardt is also accused of robbing and kidnapping an AT&T worker earlier this month and forcing him to drive to an ATM.
Police said Rhinehardt did not have a gun when they arrested him.
Rhinehardt has a long criminal record dating back to the 1980s, including robbery charges. He was released from prison in November after serving more than six years.
