Garner police search for man wanted for kidnapping out of New York

GARNER, N.C. (WTVD) -- Garner Police are searching for a man wanted in New York for kidnapping after he led officers on a chase Wednesday evening.

It started around 6:30 p.m. on U.S. 401 near Old Stage Road.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on a car with expired tags. According to authorities, they soon discovered the driver, Daveaun Whittle, 25, had a warrant out of New York for kidnapping from the Rockland County Sheriff's Office. He is described as 6'1 with a heavy-set build and was last seen wearing dark pants and a blue jacket.

The vehicle was also not registered to Whittle. Nobody else was inside the car, police said.

The officers called for backup and put a strike strip, or terminator, underneath his rear tire. They asked him to step out of the car.

Whittle then fled the scene with the terminator blowing out one of his tires. He crashed the vehicle near the Buffaloe Lanes Bowling Alley before getting out and running away on foot. Police searched for hours Wednesday and were unable to find him.

"The first thing they will be doing is looking to see if Mr. Whittle has any known associates or relatives in the Garner or Research Triangle area. Why was he in this area," said Dr. Roy Taylor, a law enforcement veteran who serves as the Chief of Capitol Special Police.

Taylor said he believes law enforcement agencies are using information databases, technology, and the public's assistance as they work to locate Whittle.

Police said they consider him to be dangerous, and it is unknown if he had a weapon with him.

The vehicle was seized.

ABC11 reached out to Rockland County Sheriff's Office in New York, which said this was an ongoing investigation.

"Anybody who has any information should call. They can certainly send investigators to the surrounding neighborhoods to see if they catch him on camera somewhere. I think the intelligence is really where it's going to make a difference," said Taylor.

Featured video is ABC11 24/7 Livestream