By Ryan Lewallen, County 17
Deputies will continue their search for a suspect that got away during a downtown pursuit early this morning, Campbell County Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds said Wednesday.
The pursuit was initiated after the suspect, a 32-year-old male, fled from a traffic stop near Brooks Avenue and Railroad Street at approximately 1:35 a.m. May 19, per Reynolds, who added that the suspect misled deputies in an attempt to conceal his identity by providing a false date of birth during the stop.
The suspect, however, was recognized by a deputy, formerly a detention officer, who was familiar with the suspect’s identity through multiple contacts with him in the Campbell County Detention Center.
As the deputies approached the vehicle, a 2000 Jeep Cherokee, and called the suspect by his real name, the male put the vehicle in drive and fled at a high rate of speed, Reynolds said.
Deputies pursued the male as he fled through the downtown area, traveling 60 mph in posted 30 mph zones and failing to stop at multiple stop signs.
As the suspect continued to flee through residential areas, deputies terminated the pursuit due to public safety concerns, Reynolds said.
Given the fact that the male would most likely be facing a handful of misdemeanors, the pursuing deputies ultimately made the call that continuing the pursuit was not justifiable, Reynolds stated.
Deputies will be seeking a warrant for the suspect’s arrest on charges consisting of eluding, reckless driving, driving under suspension, driving without an interlock device, and no insurance, according to Reynolds.
The name of the suspect was not released on May 19.
