New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 29, 2024

Fugitive in Charles City high speed chase that injured deputies captured

By Andre Jones | May 20, 2015 7:51 pm

Andrew Leroy Williams

A fugitive who led Charles City deputies on a high speed chase on Route 5 (John Tyler Memorial Highway) and sent two officers to the hospital as a result of his actions is now in custody.

Authorities apprehended Andrew Leroy Williams shortly before 7 p.m. at Niceview Farms, located on South Lott Cary Road.

According to sources close to the situation, around 1:30 p.m., Captain Jayson Crawley pulled over a vehicle after it was clocked for speeding. When he approached the suspect’s vehicle and asked for information, Williams responded that he didn’t have a license before taking off on Route 5.

Crawley began chasing the vehicle, with speeds eclipsing 100 miles per hour. Leading up to the intersection of The Glebe Lane and Route 5, Crawley was joined by Deputy Charlie Hargis, who was exiting from Haupt’s Store located on Route 5. While pulling out, the deputies’ vehicles collided with each other. A third vehicle, that was yielding right-of-way for the deputies was also struck. The suspect took off on foot shortly after the crash and made his way toward the schools located on Courthouse Road.

Schools entered lockdown mode (with the Chronicle inside), with police tracking the suspect near the rear of the high school track. Deputies, state police, and law enforcement officers from neighboring jurisdictions joined in the manhunt, entering woodlands. SWAT team members and helicopters joined in the search.

Crawley and Hargis were airlifted to local medical facilities. According to a Virginia State Police report, both officers are in serious condition, but with non-life threatening injuries. Both deputies are now at home recovering from injuries and thanked Charles City, New Kent, and residents from surrounding counties for their prayers.

Lockdown of the school remained for nearly two hours, with the first set of students released to go home at 4 p.m. All after school activities, including the Conference 42 track and field championships, were postponed.

Williams appeared via video conference in Charles City General District Court Wednesday morning and was arraigned on six charges (four felonies and two misdemeanors). He is charged one count each of felony hit-and-run, felony eluding of police, felony destruction of property (more than $1,000 of damage), unauthorized use of a vehicle, reckless driving, and driving suspended.

A preliminary hearing for Williams is set for Sept. 2.