Driver of stolen car killed in crash during pursuit in west Charlotte, CMPD says

CHARLOTTE — Police are investigating a deadly crash that was the result of a police pursuit on a west Charlotte road.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police confirmed the crash happened Tuesday morning on West Boulevard, between Clanton Road and Ross Road.

CMPD Deputy Chief Jacquelyn Hulsey said just after 8:30 a.m., they were alerted by a license-plate reader to a car that was associated with a reported armed robbery and carjacking. Hulsey said the victim told police he was robbed at gunpoint and his car was stolen. That crime was reported Monday afternoon, Hulsey said.

According to CMPD, after the LPR picked up the car’s license plate, officers tried to conduct a traffic stop on South Boulevard near Clanton Road Tuesday morning but the driver refused to pull over.

Police said that was when they started pursuing the car. In a tweet, police said they started chasing the car because it was “associated with a crime dangerous to life,” which, according to CMPD policy, is a pursuable offense.

Hulsey said the pursuit lasted 10 to 12 minutes. Then, officers deployed a stop stick tire deflation device on West Boulevard. She said the car kept going until it crashed into a tree near West Boulevard and Romare Bearden Drive.

According to Hulsey, officers found two people inside the car: The driver, who died at the scene, and the passenger, who was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Hulsey said that the passenger was not seriously hurt.

The woman who was killed was later identified as Monet Darrisaw, 34.

The road was closed during the investigation and police asked drivers to avoid the area.

Hulsey said CMPD’s Major Crash Unit is investigating the crash and the Armed Robbery Unit is investigating the crime that led to the pursuit.

If an “officer has reasonable suspicion that the driver or occupant has committed a crime dangerous to life” they can pursue the car, according to CMPD’s pursuit policy, which was updated in April.

Since it was reported as an armed robbery and carjacking, which is a crime dangerous to life, the officers were within policy, CMPD said.

CMPD’s Internal Affairs is investigating the pursuit to ensure officers did follow policy, Hulsey said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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