Crime & Safety
Police Chase Of Vehicle Break-In Suspects Ends In I-77 Crash
The teen suspects fled from police on I-77 and shot at them before officers used stop sticks and their vehicles to stop them, MPD said.
MOORESVILLE, NC — Police pursuit of vehicle break-in suspects ended with a police chase on Interstate 77 and shots fired at officers before a crash, Mooresville Police Department said Wednesday morning.
The crash shut down all southbound lanes of the interstate around 4 a.m. near the Williamson Road exit until vehicles could be cleared, WSOC reported.
The predawn incident occurred after a Waterlynn Ridge resident made an emergency call to police to report vehicle break-ins in the neighborhood. When officers arrived, they spotted two vehicles matching the caller's description leaving the neighborhood at a high rate of speed.
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Officers pursued the vehicles, however neither would stop, MPD said.
"The pursuit traveled north on Hwy 21 into Troutman where one of the suspect vehicle accessed I-77 and traveled southbound," MPD said.
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Iredell County Sheriff's Office deputies deployed stop stick on the interstate near Exit 35, MPD said.
"In an attempt to avoid apprehension, the driver used his vehicle to assault an officer by intentionally sideswiping the police vehicle, then utilized a firearm to shoot at the pursuing officer," MPD said. "Other officers utilized their patrol vehicles to end the assaults and pursuit."
No one was injured in the crash, according to MPD. The two 17-year-olds in the vehicle were taken into custody.
The driver was charged as an adult on the following charges: felony speeding to elude; assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer; assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill on a law enforcement officer; possession of a firearm by felon; possession of a stolen motor vehicle; and conspiracy to commit the breaking and entering of a motor vehicle.
MPD said an investigation into the suspects in the second vehicle remains ongoing.
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