A stolen-vehicle chase that kicked off in a Weaverville Walmart parking lot turned into a neighborhood manhunt Sunday afternoon, after the car crashed on the way toward Asheville and the driver bolted on foot, police said. By Sunday evening, officers were still combing nearby streets and yards, and the suspect had yet to turn up.
Scene and timeline
Officers first responded to the Walmart on Northridge Commons Parkway at about 1:48 p.m., when a suspect took off from the parking lot in a reported stolen vehicle. The pursuit headed toward Asheville before ending in a crash, and the driver then ran into a nearby residential area, according to FOX Carolina. Detectives are still working to lock in the full timeline of the chase and its sudden end.
Police search and public appeal
Atlanta News First reported that Weaverville officers quickly shifted from pursuit mode to a ground search after the crash, fanning out through the neighborhood to look for the fleeing driver. The Weaverville Police Department is asking anyone who might know something about the incident to contact the agency. Investigators have not released a description of the suspect while the case is active.
Why pursuits are risky
High-speed chases might look dramatic on TV, but in real life they often end badly. North Carolina has seen an increase in deadly police pursuits in recent years, the News & Observer reported. A 2023 federal working group recommended that departments reserve pursuits for situations where a suspect poses an imminent threat to the public. Local agencies then have to weigh that guidance against the risks of letting a suspect get away in the moment.
How to help
Anyone who witnessed the crash, has security or cellphone video, or picked up anything unusual on a doorbell camera is urged to contact the Weaverville Police Department at (828) 645-5700, or call 911 in an emergency. Officers say community tips can play a key role as they work to track down the suspect who slipped away from the scene.
