New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 28, 2024

Pursuit in stolen car in New Kent leads to Hampton man’s arrest

By Community Member | July 6, 2020 8:31 pm

A man who fled New Kent authorities on June 28 has been arrested on several charges that include grand theft auto.

John Perlie Dawson Jr., 33, of 16 Kenneth Street, Hampton, was arrested by New Kent Sheriff’s Office after a pursuit that resulted in a crash.

In a press release from New Kent Sheriff’s Office, a vehicle traveling on North Courthouse Road entered radar traveling 70 miles per hour in a posted 45 miles per hour zone. When the officer attempted to pull the vehicle over, it accelerated and traveled westbound on Pocahontas Trail (Route 60). The vehicle began traveling westbound on the eastbound lanes when it struck a vehicle near Toe Ink wayside. The suspect fled on foot.

After several hours, the Virginia State Police K-9 unit and New Kent Fire and Rescue was able to assist New Kent Sheriff’s Office in apprehending the suspect, who was inside a vehicle on Henpeck Road.

Dawson is charged with felony eluding of police, grand theft auto, felony hit and run, and misdemeanor counts of reckless driving, trespassing, larceny of license plates, tampering with a motor vehicle, driving on the wrong side of highway, failing to wear a seat belt, driving without a valid license, and other multiple traffic infractions.