Driver faces multiple charges after Highway Patrol chase
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The North Carolina Highway Patrol chased a car from Johnston County into Raleigh on Tuesday morning.
The incident ended just before 8:30 a.m. at Capital Boulevard and Old Wake Forest Road just short of I-540.
Pictures from the scene showed officers searching a grey Mercedes and the driver being loaded into an ambulance. He was taken to WakeMed.
On Tuesday afternoon, the driver was identified as Klein Andrew Lawrence, 32, of Hyattsville, Maryland.
Lawrence was wanted out of Maryland and Washington D.C. for assault on a police officer (warrants on file by the Metropolitan Police Department). According to D.C. Police, Lawrence allegedly stabbed a special police officer in the neck after he was confronted for shoplifting at a Giants Supermarket. He was also wanted on two warrants for strong arm robbery (warrant on file by the Prince Georges County Sheriff's Department)
Investigators said an officer initially stopped the car in Pine Level, North Carolina, but it sped off.
In addition to the out-of-state warrants, Lawrence was also charged in connection with the chase incident.
He now faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer (vehicle), driving while impaired, felony speeding to elude a law enforcement officer, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, hit and run, careless and reckless driving and no operators license.
Then Johnston County deputies and Highway Patrol officers joined the chase down Interstate 40. The driver left the interstate at Saunders and then drove through downtown Raleigh onto Capital.
According to radio traffic, he hit several cars along the way. It's unclear why he was stopped initially.
The car had a Virginia license plate.
His first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.
