ASHEBORO N.C. – An armed and dangerous wanted suspect led police on a multi-county vehicle chase that ended only after spike strips disabled the suspects vehicle in Montgomery County.
On February 18th, 2022, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office notified Randolph County 911 that they had just been in a vehicle pursuit with a suspect identified as Jonathan Luke Edwards. Police had last seen Edwards near NC Hwy 49 South in Randolph county.
Edwards was considered armed and dangerous and was wanted as an absconder from probation along with 14 outstanding warrants ranging from vehicle theft, possessing firearms as a felon, assaulting government officials, and felony fleeing arrest.
Detectives with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Urban Interdiction Unit located Edwards driving a white pickup truck on Lassiter Mill Road at Old NC Hwy 49 South. Police say they attempted to pull over the vehicle but Edwards refused to stop.
What followed was a 33-mile, multi-jurisdictional pursuit involving the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. As the chase entered Montgomery County, troopers with Highway Patrol were able to deploy spike strips which successfully punctured the tires of the pickup truck, but police say Edwards still continued to flee until deputies with Randolph County were able to disable the truck at River Road and NC-73 in Mt. Gilead.
Edwards was arrested by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Randolph County Jail. In addition to probation violations and the 14 outstanding warrants, the Randolph County Sheriff’s
Office charged Edwards with possessing a firearm as a felon, felony flee elude arrest, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and careless and reckless driving.
Edwards was given a $298,000 secured bond and a first appearance was set for February 21, 2022, in Randolph County District Court. Additional Charges are forthcoming as Edwards is suspected in multiple felony theft investigations in Randolph County.
UPDATE 2/23/22 5PM – Today we learned that on February 21st 2022, Edwards was served additional warrants from both the Randolph and Davidson county Sheriff’s Office for Felony Flee/Elude Arrest with Motor Vehicle, Felony Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle and a multitude of driving offenses as well as two counts Felony Larceny. He received an additional $7,500 secured bond for the charges out of Randolph County and $15,000 secured bond for Davidson County charges. He was also served his order for non-support in which has a $250 cash bond.