Stolen SUV leads police chase through Meck, Cabarrus counties; ends in crash

CHARLOTTE — Cabarrus County Sheriff’s deputies and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol chased a speeding SUV Wednesday that was reported stolen out of Charlotte, a police source confirmed. The driver, who nearly hit several innocent drivers, even lost a wheel in the process.

Around 1:45 p.m., Chopper 9 SkyZoom was overhead the dark-colored SUV in the University area of Charlotte. The driver ran multiple red lights before swerving through traffic on their way to the Cabarrus County area.

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Chopper 9 following chase in Cabarrus County The suspected stolen SUV nearly crashes into an oncoming car at an intersection in Cabarrus County.

Once in Cabarrus County, deputies and highway patrol troopers began to chase the SUV with their emergency lights on. The car appeared to be speeding as it traveled up Highway 29 and past the Charlotte Motor Speedway. It drove recklessly, even driving on the shoulder at times.

By 2:15 p.m., highway patrol troopers were following behind the SUV. By about 2:24 p.m., the car lost its tire while driving.

At one point, the SUV nearly got T-boned by a car at an intersection.

A police source told Channel 9 the incident began when the SUV was reported stolen in Charlotte. The source said the keys were left inside it and the SUV was left unattended when it was stolen from North Tryon Street near Eastway Drive.

The source said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers tried to pull the driver over but they failed to stop. CMPD backed off, the source said, because the car theft didn’t qualify as the kind of violent crime the department would start a chase for.

By 2:28 p.m., the chase ended dramatically when a highway patrol car boxed the SUV in near Highway 49 on Lowder Road, causing the SUV to crash. The area is 6 miles east of Mount Pleasant.

Troopers approached with guns drawn and, moments later, two suspects got out of the car and were arrested.

Channel 9′s Hunter Sáenz spoke to people who said they saw the SUV being stolen about 90 minutes earlier. A nearby business owner showed Sáenz surveillance video of the incident which shows the SUV parking, and then its owner walks into a check-cashing store. Then, someone walks over from across the street and peeks into the SUV’s windows.

Moments later, that person returned with someone else. Both suspects got into the car and drove off, leading to the chase.

Those who shop in the area where the SUV was stolen said they just feel bad for the victim.

“He’s most definitely feeling very, very, very, very frustrated. Because that’s why they say take the keys out of the car, lock the car for situations like this,” one shopper said.

Officers said one of the suspects was known to police and was even banned from the property. The pair likely face charges in both Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

(WATCH BELOW: Police follow stolen SUV driving erratically through Meck, Cabarrus counties)

Police follow stolen SUV driving erratically through Meck, Cabarrus counties

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