A routine traffic stop in Pitt County turned chaotic on May 16 when, according to investigators, a driver hit speeds topping 90 mph, tore through residential areas, then allegedly fought officers as they tried to arrest him.
Deputies say the pursuit ended with the suspect resisting on the ground, charging documents alleging he kicked officers while they worked to handcuff him. One deputy was left with redness and swelling to a leg. The incident is another reminder that high-speed chases do not just play out on TV, and they can put everyone nearby at risk.
According to WCTI, 30-year-old Willis McIntosh III of Raleigh was arrested May 16 by the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. He is charged with assault inflicting physical injury on a law enforcement officer, felony assault on an officer, felony flee to elude with a motor vehicle, resisting a public officer and several traffic-related offenses. Investigators also reported finding open bottles of Burnett’s and Mickey’s alcohol inside the vehicle.
Records show McIntosh remains in custody at the Pitt County Detention Center, which maintains a public detainee search and provides contact information for inmate inquiries. The sheriff’s detention pages note that booking information is refreshed regularly and that the facility handles care, custody and court transport for county inmates. Family members and other interested parties can use the county portal to see the latest booking details.
What the charges could mean
Under North Carolina law, "speeding to elude" is covered by N.C.G.S. §20-141.5. That offense can be bumped up to a felony when two or more aggravating factors are present, such as very high speeds, reckless driving, gross impairment or driving with a revoked license. What starts as a bad decision to run can quickly become a serious felony case when those boxes get checked.
Alleged assaults on officers that result in physical injury are addressed in G.S. 14-34.7, which allows prosecutors to pursue Class H or Class E felony charges depending on how severe the injury is. If the allegations in the charging documents are proven in court, those statutes give the state room to seek significantly tougher penalties than a routine traffic case would bring.
Investigators' account of the pursuit
Charging documents reviewed by WCTI say troopers first spotted the vehicle traveling 45 in a 25 mph zone on 10th Street in Raleigh. When they tried to stop the car, the driver allegedly took off.
During the pursuit, troopers report that the vehicle’s headlights were turned off, it crossed into oncoming traffic, ran multiple stoplights and cut through residential yards while speeds climbed past 90 mph. According to the documents, officers say McIntosh refused commands after the chase ended and kicked while being detained. Court records show he was scheduled to appear in Pitt County court on Monday, May 18.
Pitt County prosecutors will review the charging documents and decide whether to pursue felony upgrades, and any plea agreement or indictment will appear in upcoming court filings. This story will be updated as additional records or official statements are released.
