ROCKINGHAM — A late morning police chase that started in Anson County on Wednesday, crossed the river and ended with a crash near a Richmond County pharmacy.
According to the Polkton Police Department, officers attempted to stop a dark-colored four-door Ford on U.S. 74 around 11 a.m. Dec. 14 but the driver refused to stop.
An initial reason for the stop is not given in a press release issued Thursday morning.
As the vehicle continued east, officers ran the license plate number, which did not come back as registered to the vehicle they were pursuing, the press release states.
The Wadesboro Police Department and Anson County Sheriff’s Office joined the chase to assist and the driver reportedly “intentionally struck” a semi-truck “in his efforts to get away from pursuing officers.”
The driver, 43-year-old Avery Shandel James, of Hamlet Avenue, allegedly continued east “in a careless and reckless manner” and eventually into Richmond County.
(Note: The press release lists his middle name as “Shandeal.”)
Deputies from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deployed stop sticks to try to slow James down, according to police.
The vehicle lost two tires, but James reportedly continued driving with two flat tires and sparks coming from the rims.
As the pursuit entered the Rockingham city limits, RPD officers reportedly blocked intersections.
The chase ended when James crashed at the intersection of U.S. 74 Bus. and Long Drive in front of CVS Pharmacy.
James and two other unnamed individuals jumped out of the car and tried to run but were caught and taken into custody.
The release does not give the status of the other two individuals.
According to police, James was wanted by the U.S. Marshal’s Service on federal parole violation.
Court records show James had been convicted on federal charges related to a bank robbery and sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2006. James appealed his sentence several times and records with the Federal Bureau of Prisons show he was released Nov. 27, 2019.
James is now charged with one felony count each of fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon.
He was taken to the Anson County Jail with a detainer for U.S. Marshals, according to the release.
James is scheduled to appear in Anson County District Court Dec. 20 on the aforementioned charges.
Records show James is also charged with nearly two dozen traffic violations in Richmond County including speeding in excess of 65 mph, reckless driving to endanger, operating a vehicle with no insurance, failure to wear a seat belt, and driving while license revoked.
No bond amount was listed in the press release.
Prior to his federal sentence, James was convicted several misdemeanor and felony charges in Richmond County, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.
James was first convicted in 1996 on two counts of misdemeanor larceny, as well as misdemeanor breaking and entering and resisting a public officer.
Later that year, his probation was revoked and the B&E conviction was upgraded to a felony after he was convicted on another charge of felony breaking and entering and he served 10 months behind bars.
In 1998, James was convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon and was incarcerated for more than six years.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
UPDATED: A sentence regarding the unknown status of the other two individuals was added after initial publication. 1:19 p.m. 12-15-22
