Salisbury man takes Iredell Sheriff’s Office on chase

Published 9:48 pm Monday, April 24, 2017

Iredell County officials say a Salisbury man is accused of taking items from a Mooresville convenience store, then leading officers on a short vehicle chase early Saturday morning.

Iredell authorities said the incident began at Zip N Go Convenience store, 2013 Charlotte Highway, after a report of stolen cigarettes, lighter and a drink at 6:09 a.m. An Iredell deputy met a vehicle, a Dodge pickup, traveling north on Charlotte Highway, according to a statement.

David Brandon Pope, 30, of 130 BHS Drive, was charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest in a motor vehicle, felony possession of a stolen vehicle, driving while license revoked, larceny, resisting a public officer, speeding, littering, driving left of center and a stoplight violation.

Sheriff Darren Campbell said Deputies C. Little and J. Buzard turned to follow the Dodge truck and checked the license plate, which was the same one given by the store clerk. The tag belonged to the N.C. Department of Agriculture, and the truck was stolen from Rowan County.

Deputies attempted to stop the truck, using blue lights and sirens, but the suspect would not stop, the statement said.

Deputies pursued the pickup into Troutman. Deputy D. Caskaddon deployed stop sticks, which officials said the suspect ran over. Pope made a left turn onto Old Mountain Road. Both front tires were shredded, but the vehicle continued with deputies in pursuit.

Lt. B.A. Marshall deployed stop sticks, which Pope ran over, shredding his left rear tire. He continued on Old Mountain Road.

State Trooper S. Stevenson deployed stop sticks on Old Mountain Road, which the truck ran over for a third time. Officials said those stop sticks still didn’t halt the pickup and Pope continued on Old Mountain Road.

Just before the Alexander County line, Pope’s vehicle turned left onto Cain Road, which dead ends. Pope pulled into a driveway at the end of the road and stopped.

Pope was removed from the vehicle and arrested. Authorities said Pope was released from prison on Friday. He was convicted in 20o8 for first-degree sex offense with a child, resisting arrest in December 2016 and post-release revocation in December 2016, for which he was released on Friday.

Authorities say they expect to charge Pope for the stolen vehicle. Pope received a $25,000 secured bond.