Suspect Arrested In Courthouse Parking Lot Attack

SMITHFIELD — A man accused of attacking and robbing a woman outside the Johnston County Courthouse earlier this week has been arrested.

Ryan Markeith Marsh, 31, of Jamestown, NC was taken into custody Thursday following a multi-agency effort that included the Wake County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Marsh is accused of assaulting a 31-year-old woman in the courthouse parking lot around 12:40 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, minutes after the two had appeared in court together in a domestic-related case, Smithfield police said.

Marsh allegedly followed the woman to her vehicle as she attempted to leave, pushed her to the ground and tried to force her into his nearby car. After the woman managed to escape, she was allegedly pushed to the ground again and robbed of her cell phone and four debit and credit cards. Marsh fled the scene before officers arrived.

Police later recovered the woman’s stolen cellphone near the Neuse River Greenway. She sustained minor injuries and did not require hospitalization.

Marsh is charged with second degree kidnapping, common law robbery, false imprisonment, assault on a female, habitual misdemeanor assault, financial card theft, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and a domestic violence protective order violation.

Authorities said the victim and Marsh had previously been in a relationship. Marsh is scheduled to appear in Johnston County District Court on the charges on Monday, Jan. 12.