CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police have released the name of one of the suspects accused of stealing a car Thursday before leading police to a popular midtown shopping center during the height of the afternoon rush hour.
Police arrested and charged James Massey. They said Massey and another person were spotted in a stolen car just after 5:30 p.m.
(Massey)
Officers tried to make a traffic stop but said the suspects took off.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s helicopter tracked the stolen car to the Metropolitan parking garage, where the suspects hopped out and ran, but officers had the area surrounded.
[ [CHOPPER 9 Photos: Heavy police presence at the Metro in Midtown] ]
Chopper 9 SkyZoom was overhead and could see a large police presence outside the Midtown Target parking deck.
Officials said officers did not chase the vehicle, but CMPD's aviation team did until the car entered the parking deck.
From Chopper 9, police were seen walking on the top of the parking deck with guns drawn.
Witness Xavier Hill said he came to the area to get some cameras, but encountered police activity instead.
"Always something in Charlotte," Hill said.
Witness Eric Archibaud said he had never seen anything like that before.
"It was kind of crazy because I had never seen that before. Honestly, I thought it was a shooting or something so I was kind of scared," Archibaud said.
No injuries were reported.
Police have not released the name of the second suspect.
This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for more information.