By Steve Huffman
shuffman@salisburypost.com
A simple shoplifting resulted in a chase involving officers from a number of Rowan County law-enforcement agencies Sunday night.
The chase ended at the Clark Road exit off Interstate 85 in Davidson County, about two miles past the Yadkin River bridge north of Rowan County.
“I’m out here a little excited,” said Rowan County Sheriff George Wilhelm, one of the major players in the pursuit.
Wilhelm said the event started about 7:30 p.m. when an employee at CVS Pharmacy in Rockwell called to report a shoplifting.
The call went out for officers to be on the lookout for a burgundy PT Cruiser traveling west on U.S. 52.
According to Wilhelm, a Granite Quarry police officer soon stopped the suspect vehicle along U.S. 52. But the Cruiser halted only momentarily, soon pulling away from the officer, first at a slow speed, then gradually accelerating.
“He started driving 20 (mph), then 30 and then 45,” Wilhelm said. “When he got on the interstate, he was traveling in excess of 90.”
Wilhelm was in the area of Jake Alexander Boulevard and East Innes Street when the call for help went out, and he soon joined the pursuit. He said that in addition to him and the Granite Quarry officer, officers from the N.C. Highway Patrol and the Salisbury and East Spencer police departments were also involved.
Wilhelm said the suspect vehicle proceeded west on Innes Street, then sped north on the interstate, with officers in hot pursuit. He said occupants of the Cruiser tossed items from the car throughout the chase.
Wilhelm said officers believed occupants were ditching items they had just stolen.
He said the chase finally ended when an East Spencer officer got in front of the Cruiser in Davidson County and boxed it in, with the sheriff and the Granite Quarry officer following.
Wilhelm said the driver of the Cruiser had a New York license and the car was registered to an owner in High Point. There were three people in the Cruiser.
Wilhelm said the case would be handled by the Granite Quarry officer who made the first stop. Efforts to reach the Granite Quarry and Rockwell police departments were unsuccessful Sunday night.
Wilhelm said the driver of the Cruiser would face a bevy of charges, including speeding to elude a law enforcement officer and felony speeding to elude arrest for traveling more than 90 mph on the interstate.
Reached on his cell phone shortly before 9 p.m., Wilhelm said he was searching the interstate near its intersection with Innes Street for items the suspects threw from the Cruiser as the chase played out.
“They were throwing out things,” Wilhelm said. “That’s what I’m looking for now.”
He said anyone who doubts that law-enforcement officers make up a close-knit community have never witnessed the response when one officer sends out a cry for help as happened Sunday.
“You’ll be surprised at the response you get,” Wilhelm said.
He said he monitors his scanner on an almost-constant basis and said that while his involvement in chases is relatively rare, they still happen.
“I get in about one a year,” Wilhelm said.