Overdose Call in Asheboro Leads To Vehicle Chase – Couple Arrested

ASHEBORO N.C. – What started as a call for a possible overdose in Asheboro ended with two people arrested, a gun seized, a stolen car recovered, all after a vehicle chase.

On June 30, 2022 at around 6pm emergency crews and police were called to a possible overdose in the parking lot of the Randolph Mall. The 911 caller stated two subjects were slumped over inside a vehicle, which was parked in front of Belks.

According to Assistant Chief of Police Robbie Brown with the Asheboro Police Department, officers arrived and located the vehicle. “While attempting to wake up the two occupants, inside the vehicle, officers noticed a firearm in the driver’s lap. After securing the firearm officers continued their efforts to wake the individuals up,” said Brown in an email Friday evening. Reports from police say that driver suddenly woke up and after seeing the officer standing beside at the driver’s side of the vehicle suddenly sped off.

Officers caught up with the vehicle on US Hwy 64 and attempted to stop the vehicle, police say the driver refused to pull over. What followed was a 22 mile long pursuit down reaching speeds of 80 mph on Hwy, 42 and Hwy 22. During that pursuit officer from Asheboro Police Department were joined by deputies with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and Troopers with the NC Highway Patrol. After running the vehicles tag, 911 reported that the vehicle had been reported stolen.

The pursuit ended near the intersection of Joe Branson Rd and Louis Brown Rd near the Chatham County line after a deputy from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office conducted a PIT maneuver on the vehicle. Both occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody transported by Randolph County EMS to a local area hospital for minor injuries.

A firearm was seen being taken into evidence by police on the scene, but we have not been able to confirm if that was a 2nd firearm or the same firearm seized before the pursuit.

Asheboro Police identified the driver as 30 year old Travis Earl Pugh of Liberty, NC. Pugh was charged with multiple offenses related to the chase as well as served at least 2 warrants for failure to appear. The passenger, 26 year old Kimberly Nicole Hopkins was booked in the Randolph County Jail on 2 outstanding warrants out of Chatham County for failing to appear on drug and shoplifting charges as well as additional warrants from Randolph County for failing to appear on drug charges.