Stop Sticks End Wrong-Way Bypass Pursuit in North Carolina

Stop Sticks End Wrong-Way Bypass Pursuit

https://richmondobserver.com/

https://richmondobserver.com/crime/rcso-gun-found-in-car-after-wrong-way-bypass-pursuit.html

            Stop Sticks End Wrong-Way Bypass Pursuit: In Richmond County, North Carolina officers deployed Stop Sticks to stop a man engaging in a high-speed pursuit on the U.S. 74 bypass.  What made matters worse is that he was driving in the wrong lane.

Wrong-Way Driver

            Early on September 29, a deputy was patrolling the U.S. 74 bypass in North Carolina.  At that point, a vehicle drove on the wrong side of the bypass.  Once he saw this, the deputy turned his lights and sirens on to notify the driver that he was going the wrong way.

The Chase

            The deputy finally caught up to the vehicle, and it then sped away at a high speed rate.  The chase continued, and other deputies joined in on the pursuit to help with taking down the reckless driver.  The wrong-way pursuit continued on the U.S. 74 bypass for a while, until one deputy successfully deployed Stop Sticks on the vehicle.  The driver continued on the road for a short distance.  The vehicle was blocked in, and the chase ended.  Officers approached the vehicle, but the driver refused to exit his vehicle. Because of this, the officers forcefully removed the driver.

Aftermath

            Officers identified the driver as Michael Eric Bennett Jr.  Bennett is a 39-year-old male from Lilesville who has been convicted on previous felony charges.  After they took Bennett into custody, officers found a Glock 9mm handgun inside the car.  Bennett has been charged with the following: fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm by a felon, reckless driving with wanton disregard, carrying a concealed gun, resisting a public officer, and possession of a controlled substance inside a jail facility.

Engaging in any high-speed pursuit is very dangerous and puts innocent people in harm’s way.  However, driving on the wrong side of a bypass makes matters even more dangerous.  By deploying Stop Sticks, the officers ended a dangerous situation as safely as possible.

Link to article by The Richmond Observer: https://richmondobserver.com/crime/rcso-gun-found-in-car-after-wrong-way-bypass-pursuit.html