Juvenile in custody who fled traffic stop in stolen car

Published 10:35 am Monday, October 30, 2023

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Southampton County Sheriff’s Office deputies took a juvenile into custody Sunday morning, Oct. 29, in Courtland after receiving a tip regarding the subject. He allegedly had fled a Courtland traffic stop the day prior in a car reported to have been stolen during an armed carjacking in Durham, North Carolina, earlier that evening.

The sheriff’s office noted in an Oct. 29 social media post that juvenile petitions were secured for felony eluding and possession of a firearm by a juvenile.

A news release from the sheriff’s office stated that on Saturday, Oct. 28, at around 10:35 p.m., a Southampton County deputy stopped a vehicle for traveling 100 mph in a 60-mph zone on Southampton Parkway near Meherrin Road. 

Police stated that as the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver fled from the traffic stop, eventually losing control and crashing at Southampton Parkway and Shady Brook Trail.

The driver and only occupant then fled into a wooded area, the release continued just before offering a description of the suspect.

The vehicle, a silver Ford Focus with an Illinois registration, was determined to have been reported stolen during an armed carjacking in Durham, North Carolina, earlier in the evening, police said.

Southampton deputies and the Virginia State Police attempted multiple K-9 tracks, but the suspect was not located at the time, the release stated, adding that local deputies would be sharing information with the Durham Police Department in an effort to identify and locate the suspect.

“The suspect is believed to be armed and should not be approached if seen,” sheriff’s office officials stated. “Additional personnel have been assigned to patrol the area.”

The release provided phone numbers and www.p3tips.com as avenues through which people could provide tips to aid the search and investigation.

The sheriff’s office issued another news release several hours later, stating that on Oct. 29 at around 5:58 a.m., the office received a call that a suspicious subject matching the description provided in the earlier release was in the 7-Eleven located in the 27000 block of Southampton Parkway. 

Police stated that deputies responded to this location, and upon seeing law enforcement, the subject went to the store bathroom and did not come out.

Negotiators were called to respond, and deputies established contact with the subject while waiting, the release stated. After a few minutes, the subject came out and was taken into custody without further incident, police stated, adding that a firearm was recovered from the store.

“Deputies will continue working with Durham PD in reference to the carjacking incident,” sheriff’s office officials said.

The release noted that deputies are still investigating this incident. 

“We would like to thank all of the persons that contacted us with information and tips during this incident,” police said.