PRESS RELEASE — At 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Officer Leonard Roff of the Pinehurst Police Department observed a subject operating a vehicle on Strickland at MLK Jr. Drive.  The driver committed several traffic offenses.  Officer Roff activated his emergency lights in order to initiate a traffic stop.

The driver of the vehicle accelerated dramatically in an obvious attempt to evade Officer Roff.  The offender, traveling East on Strickland Drive, began passing vehicles in the turning lane and driving in an unsafe manner as he continued to evade the officer. The pursuit ended in the 200 block of Strickland Drive as the offender’s vehicle struck a curb near a fast food restaurant on the corner of Strickland and Camellia Drive disabling the vehicle.

Officer Roff was able to take the subject into custody without incident.

The offender, a 15 year old black male, was charged with Felony Evading Arrest or Detention and several traffic offenses.  As is customary, the identity of the juvenile will not be released.

The pursuit resulted in no damage to city property or injury to any persons involved.

The juvenile was processed and eventually transported to the Minnie Rogers Juvenile Detention Facility in Beaumont.  The juvenile was already on probation and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of his arrest.

The Orange Police Department assisted.

Evading Arrest with a vehicle is a State Jail Felony.