ROCKINGHAM — A woman wanted in South Carolina was reportedly caught in Richmond County following a car chase through two states early Monday morning.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were alerted around 2:18 a.m. March 13 that the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office was involved in a pursuit on state route 177, heading toward the state line.
Deputies responded to the area and were told that the driver, 32-year-old Samantha Paige Weatherford, of Rockingham, wrecked at the intersection of 177 and Old Wix Road, but kept going, according to RCSO.
Local deputies caught up with the Chesterfield deputy on Mizpah Road and joined the chase until Weatherford reportedly jumped out and ran, just north of Eason Drive on U.S. 1.
According to RCSO, Weatherford had a bag and when a deputy approached her, she allegedly said that she had a gun and reached inside the bag.
That deputy reportedly held her at gunpoint and, while her attention was diverted, another officer “was able to take her down.”
According to the sheriff’s office, no firearm was recovered.
Weatherford was arrested and charged with being a fugitive, resisting a public officer and “numerous traffic violations.” She is being held on a combined $60,000 secured bond as she awaits extradition. Her court date is scheduled for March 23.
Investigators say Weatherford was wanted in Chesterfield County for distributing meth and giving false information.
South Carolina court records show that Weatherford pled guilty to possession of 1 gram or less of meth or cocaine base in November 2022 and a charge of giving false information was dismissed.
Weatherford, whose previously had an address in Patrick, South Carolina, has several other prior convictions in the Palmetto State:
2009 – resisting arrest, Chesterfield County
2011 – two counts of marijuana possession, Darlington County
2014 – accessory after the fact (originally first-degree assault and battery) – Chesterfield County
2015 – simple larceny – Darlington County
2016 – accessory after the fact (originally armed robbery), assault and battery of a highly aggravated nature (originally attempted murder) – Chesterfield County
Records show that multiple counts of burglary, robbery and assault have been dismissed over the years.
Weatherford has no prior convictions in North Carolina, but records show pending traffic charges from 2022 in Richmond County.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
