A police chase in eastern Burke County on Thursday, Oct. 17, ended in a man’s arrest.
Jonathan Pearson, 35, was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, felony flee to elude arrest, misdemeanor assault on a government official, misdemeanor resisting a public officer, misdemeanor littering, driving while license revoked and driving left of center, said Burke County Sheriff Banks Hinceman.
He said a deputy was patrolling in eastern Burke County on Oct. 17 when he spotted a van that had been reported stolen from the Rutherford College area. Deputies already had identified Pearson as a suspect in the case.
When the deputy tried to stop the van, the driver fled, leading a chase around several roads in the Rutherford College and Connelly Springs area, Hinceman said. The driver was throwing out power tools, nails and other items from the window in what Hinceman believed was an attempt to hinder officers.
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The car went off a road through a field of heavy brush and rough terrain before coming to a stop on a mound of dirt, Hinceman said. Pearson ran from the vehicle, and a deputy chased him into a wooded area. The deputy followed Pearson through a creek, Hinceman said.
Pearson continued to resist arrest when deputies caught up to him.
“I’m just appreciative of those officers working hard to try to catch this guy, get him in custody and do it safely,†Hinceman said. “Obviously they all put their lives in danger to take this guy into custody and I’m just appreciative of that, the work they do.â€
Pearson also had outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions, including charges for felony flee to elude arrest, first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and misdemeanor child abuse, Hinceman said.
Pearson was held at the Burke County Jail under a $247,000 bond, jail records showed.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol assisted with the arrest.