Gas Driveoff Leads To High-Speed Pursuit In Richlands, Va.

RICHLANDS, Va. – A gas drive-off turned into a high-speed pursuit late Monday and into Tuesday, authorities said.
Richlands police received a call at 11:52 p.m. Monday about a 2003 Chevrolet pickup involved in a gas drive-off at a Little General Store.
The pickup driver refused to stop when a patrol officer located it and the two vehicles chased through town and onto state Route 67, traveling about 80 mph, police said.
The pickup continued on various roads before coming upon two waiting officers’ patrol cars on Hill Creek Road where the truck again refused to stop, police said.
The chase went into Buchanan County, where the driver lost control in a steep curve, running the truck over an embankment. A Richlands police cruiser also went over the embankment.
The driver ran from his truck and police searched the woods with a K-9 unit. When the driver was found, he threatened to harm officers and himself before eventually surrendering, police said.
Jerry Matthew Davis, 31, of Richlands, was charged with two counts of eluding police officers, one count of petit larceny and one count of failure to pay for gas.
Patrolman F.L. Dorton was not injured in the crash, police said. His patrol car sustained damage but should be repairable.