High-speed chases on the rise across NC with police pursuits more than doubling since 2019

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Four chases in three days. Two of them ended in violent crashes. 

The number of police pursuits has more than doubled in North Carolina since 2019. 

They are reaching high speeds, and they’re high stakes.

On Sunday, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office was involved in a chase. An 18-year-old suspect was going 115 mph, before he crashed and died. An innocent driver was also injured.

On Monday, there was a chase involving the North Carolina State Highway Patrol in Johnston County. There was also a chase involving troopers in Person County, reaching 145 miles an hour.

On Tuesday, a driver crashed into a power pole in Knightdale, after leading troopers on a 100-mile-per-hour chase. He refused to stop when troopers tried to pull him over for suspected impaired driving. Hundreds of people were without power for hours.

The number of chases and pursuits in the area and the state are skyrocketing.

According to the State Highway Patrol, in 2019, there were 454 pursuits. In 2022, there were 1,053.  Data from 2023 was not yet available.

The Wake County Sheriff’s Office reported 33 pursuits, resulting in three deaths in 2019. In 2019, there were 74 pursuits. So far in 2024, there have been 35 chases, including one death. 

“What is the policy in place at each agency for allowing an officer to justify doing a dangerous maneuver?” asked Hunt Willis, a partner at Martin & Jones law firm.

He and Forest Horne have represented innocent bystanders who have been impacted or injured after a law enforcement pursuit.

The attorneys point to departmental policies as the guidelines officers should follow, when deciding whether or not they should pursue a suspect.

“During the pursuit, the analysis might change. It might have been a good idea to start the pursuit. But 2 minutes, 30 seconds into the pursuit, now you’re in a high traffic area,” explained Willis. “Now you’re in places where crosswalks exist, and pedestrians and people are walking their dogs. The analysis changes.”

CBS17 took a look at the policies from the Wake County Sheriff’s Office and State Highway Patrol.  

Both policies emphasize the need for a deputy or trooper to weigh factors, prior to proceeding with a pursuit.

Former Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison told CBS17, that within a matter of seconds, law enforcement officers have to figure out why someone is driving recklessly, and if they’re putting people in danger if they let them off the hook, and don’t follow them. 

“The first thing pops in your mind, is it worth chasing this person? In our mind, has he just robbed a bank? Has he just killed somebody? Why is he doing this? If he doesn’t stop for that blue light, then that makes it even worse,” Harrison explained. “A lot of things go through our mind, and we go through the policies we have on a pulse.” 

Harrison also told CBS17 he’s not exactly sure why the number of chases has gone up, but he does believe there should be stricter consequences for crimes, to prevent criminals from getting back on the streets and breaking even more laws. 

He also said if an officer is trying to pull you over, pull over.