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http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N492ST
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The father of the man accused of stealing and crashing a plane said he is “ashamed” of the allegations against his son.
Investigators are looking for Curtis Mellott, 46, after they say he stole an airplane late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
He allegedly crashed it in a wooded area south of Graham and took off leaving a bloody trail behind. Investigators lost his track and are now looking in the Chapel-Hill and Durham area, according to Randy Jones, spokesman for the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office. He said Mellott is believed to be in a gold BMW SUV.
Calvin Mellott, father of the suspect, said his son was not raised to steal. He said he does not condone what his son is accused of doing. He said Curtis must have “snapped” and “gone off the deep end.”
He said his son needs help. Calvin said he is worried about Curtis and what may happen to him when police find him.
Curtis Mellott had a student pilot’s license until 2004. His father described him as “an expert pilot” who grew up in Chapel-Hill and spent time at the Horace Williams Airport, the same one where he’s accused of stealing the plane.
Mellott lives in a Chapel-Hill neighborhood called “Mel Oaks,” named for his family. His father played a major role in designing it.
Some neighbors were not completely surprised to learn the man they call “erratic” was the person accused of stealing and crashing the plane.
"His behavior has been so unpredictable these last few years that honestly it didn't surprise me. It makes me really sad to think that he's gone to such an extent,” said Karen West.
Janet Shrader said she was both surprised and not at the same time.
“It’s so huge and just out of the normal run of the mill of what you heard about the DUIs and stuff like that. I kind of always had wondered if would ever push it so bad and I was like, ‘He did,’” she said.
At one time some neighbors considered Mellott a friend, but over time, they said he caused to much noise, had too many people coming and going and was messy.
"One time I went over to talk with him about the mess that was building up on his property and he was verbally abusive to me and at that point we realized that something wasn't right and we just couldn't talk to him directly anymore. So, anytime there was an incident, we called the sheriff," West said.
Neighbors said it is not uncommon to see deputies responding to the house. Karen West put up a fence between her house and Mellott’s about six months ago.
"We just didn't want to look at the mess on his property anymore. The cars that were coming and going, various people who we didn't know who they were. We felt a little unsafe at times and just needed to have that physical barrier,” she said.
"I always felt like it was just annoying before and just kind of like, 'Nobody can tell me what to do. I'm going to make my noise,’” Shrader said.
“This definitely ratchets up and ramps up like a concern. What was his mindset and what else could go on?,” she said.
Original Article and Video: http://www2.nbc17.com
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