ELIZABETHTOWN — A high-speed chase Sunday morning ended with the arrest of a Charlotte man on several drug and assault charges after the man sped through a license-checking station.
Bladen County Sheriff Jim McVicker said deputies, along with Elizabethtown police officers, had set up the station on U.S. 701 near the Cape Fear River bridge and entrance to Tory Hole Park.
“Sgt. Cley Carroll saw a 2006 Honda Civic approaching the checking station and it did not appear to be slowing down,” McVicker said. “Carroll heard the vehicle increase speed.
“Carroll was standing in the road and moved to another lane and the vehicle switched lanes towards Carroll,” McVicker added. “Carroll had to jump out of the road to avoid being hit.”
McVicker said the vehicle failed to stop for a stop light at the intersection of Broad and Poplar streets and went through the intersection at an estimated speed of 80 mph.
“Deputies began to pursue the vehicle and were able to catch up with it as it turned onto the N.C. 87 Bypass traveling west,” McVicker said. “The vehicle began to cross back and forth across the grass median as it traveled westbound towards Dublin (and) at some point crossed to the eastbound lane and turned around heading back towards Elizabethtown.”
Deputies attempted to get in front of the vehicle in order to deploy stop sticks, but the driver then attempted to turn onto Cromartie Road and ram a patrol car operated by Deputy Jason Andrews.
“Andrews had to swerve into a ditch to avoid being struck,” McVicker said.
The vehicle hit a concrete median and became disabled, and the driver managed to get out of his vehicle and run into the woods where he was apprehended after a short foot chase.
Arrested was Gebreal Charles Moss, 23 of Charlotte. He was charged with two counts of injury to personal property, resisting a public officer, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, felony flee to elude arrest, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, manufacture Schedule II controlled substance and driving while impaired.
Moss was placed in Bladen County Jail under a $135,000 secured bond.
A passenger in the vehicle and the owner, Kayla Atlanta Flack, 21, of Indian Trails, was charged with aiding and abetting driving while impaired. She received a $5,000 unsecured bond.
McVicker said both Moss and Andrews were transported to Bladen County Hospital where they were treated and released. Deputy Andrews patrol vehicle sustained heavy damage.
“This was a dangerous situation my deputies found themselves in,” said McVicker. “I am just glad we were able to stop this young man before he hurt someone. We were assisted by Elizabethtown Police and the North Carolina Highway Patrol.”
W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.