Deal reached in 2015 hit-and-run case that left officers injured in Charles City

Andrew Leroy Williams

A man who led Charles City officers on a high-speed chase in 2015 accepted a plea deal during Friday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court.

Andrew Leroy Williams, 35, of the 7000 block of Church Lane, entered guilty pleas to one count each of felony eluding police, felony hit and run, reckless driving, and driving suspended. One charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle was dropped as part of the agreement.

In a summary of evidence presented by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler, around 1:30 p.m. on May 20, 2015, Charles City Capt. Jayson Crawley was operating radar on Route 5 (John Tyler Memorial Highway) near Sturgeon Point Road when an SUV passed him at a high rate of speed. Crawley initiated a traffic stop and approached Williams’ vehicle, asking for information. After Williams responded that he didn’t have a license, he fled westbound on Route 5 with Crawley giving chase.

Speeds eclipsed the 100-mile per hour barrier as both vehicles approached the intersection of The Glebe Lane and Route 5. There, Crawley was joined by then Deputy Charlie Hargis, who was exiting from Haupt’s Store (located on Route 5) to join the chase. While pulling out, the deputies’ vehicles collided with each other, along with a third vehicle. Williams’ car continued before crashing at the intersection of John Tyler Memorial Highway and Route 155 (Courthouse Road), about a half-mile away, with the defendant taking off on foot.

Nearby county schools went on lockdown, 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 also joined in the search. Williams was apprehended shortly before 7 p.m. at Niceview Farm, located on South Lott Cary Road and about three miles away from the accident scene.

Crawley and Hargis were airlifted to local medical facilities and were later released. Both have recovered from injuries.

Williams addressed the court on the events of that day, referencing his state of mind and personal encounters with law enforcement officers in the past.

“I grew up in Baltimore and where I am from, when I see a coop, that means I would either get beat up or killed,” the defendant said. “On that day, it was a big mistake. I had no reason to run.

“I truly am sorry for what I did,” Williams continued, turning to Crawley who was in the courtroom during the proceedings. “When I was arrested, the first thing I asked was ‘Are the officers okay?’”

“I didn’t come to this town (Charles City) to cause trouble,” he added. “It was a mistake and everything was going well. I just don’t know what I was thinking that day and I am truly sorry for all that has happened, especially to the officers.”

Formal sentencing for Williams is scheduled for June 17. Under the plea agreement, Tyler would recommend a sentence that is capped at two years, nine months to serve.

In other circuit court cases Friday morning:

–Ishmael Kassim Brown, 28, of the 8900 block of Stagg Run Road, Charles City, accepted a plea agreement, entering guilty pleas to one count each of felony eluding, reckless driving, and driving suspended.

Evidence presented indicated on Jan. 16, Brown was operating a vehicle at a high rate of speed on Route 5 near Route 106 (Roxbury Road) when a deputy attempted to pull him over. After a momentary pause, the suspect turned southbound onto Route 106 towards the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge before making a U-turn on a private road.

The chase continued northbound on Route 106 with the suspect making a right onto Wayside Road and pulling into a yard. Brown took off on foot with deputies unable to catch him. Officers, however, staked out the vehicle and around 1 a.m., Brown returned to his vehicle and attempted to leave the driveway. Officers arrested him upon his return to the car.

Under the plea agreement, he receive a five-year jail sentence with four years suspended (one to serve) on the felony eluding case. He will serve a mandatory 10-day sentence on the driving suspended charge with all other time suspended, as well as all 12 months suspended on the misdemeanor reckless driving charge.

–Tina Eileen Clayton, 46, of the 900 block of Ampthill Road, Cartersville, entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor counts of petty larceny and trespassing and a no contest plea to a misdemeanor count of destruction of property as part of a plea agreement. A burglary charge was dropped as part of the deal.

In a summary of evidence, last Nov. 16, a deputy responded to a vacated residence on Sandy Point Road to find Clayton had entered the property without permission. When inspecting her vehicle, the officer located wire and pipes from the home.

Under the agreement Clayton received 12 months with all time suspended on each of the three charges, but has to complete 50 hours of community service.

–Gary Allen Lapean, 60, of the 9300 block of Barnetts Road, Charles City, accepted a plea agreement and entered a guilty plea to misdemeanor assault and battery. One charge each of strangulation and reckless handling of a firearm were dropped.

In a summary of evidence, Lapean had been drinking at a family gathering and proceeded to the home of a neighbor with whom he had been having verbal altercations. As Lapean walked towards the home, family members attempted to stop him. As one of those members tried to restrain the defendant, Lapean put his hands around the victim’s neck before eventually being pulled away by other family members.

Under the agreement, he received a six-month sentence with all but four days suspended.