DENVER – A man who is the suspect in the theft of a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office cruiser late Monday night has turned himself in to authorities. The man did so earlier this afternoon.
Todd Martin, 38, of Antelope Drive in Mount Holly, was arrested and charged with larceny of a motor vehicle; misdemeanor escape; failure to stop for blue lights and siren; failure to stop for a stop sign; driving while license revoked and resisting arrest.
Martin was taken to the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond.
The cruiser – a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria – was recovered by Gaston County Police at Lucia Riverbend Highway and Underwood Drive early Tuesday morning. The keys were left in the ignition and nothing was taken from inside.
The incident started around 10:30pm Monday when Deputy R.D. Richard was on patrol on McIntosh Road when he got behind a white Chevy pickup.
Deputy Richard said as the vehicle approached the stop sign at Highway 16, Martin accelerated full throttle across the highway. At that point, Deputy Richard tried to initiate a traffic stop since the driver ran the stop sign.
The deputy continued the vehicle pursuit, noting the truck never slowed down until stopping in the woods after hitting a large tree stump in the 1500 block of South Highway 16.
Martin then jumped from the truck, running into the woods. Deputy Richard caught him about 40 yards into the woods.
Martin was placed into custody and secured in double-locked handcuffs in the back, then placed into the passenger side back seat of Richard’s cruiser.
Deputy Richard also placed a seat belt around Martin.
As the pickup was in preparation to be towed, Deputy Richard filled out a towed vehicle report in the front seat of his cruiser. The deputy had to get a signature from the tow truck driver, who was assuming responsibility for the truck.
Richard got out of his cruiser and walked about 40 feet to the tow truck driver when he heard tires spinning, turning to see his cruiser being driven by Martin.
Lincoln County authorities, along with Gaston County authorities and a canine unit, tried unsuccessfully to look for Todd Martin late Monday night into early Tuesday.
Todd Martin was last in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center on June 30 after leading Deputy Richard on a brief foot chase in East Lincoln.
Deputy Richard first spotted Martin in a white Mercedes heading north on Highway 16. The deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop but Martin took off.
After turning south in the 1400 block of Highway 16, the vehicle turned down a driveway, suddenly coming to a stop.
Martin jumped out of the Mercedes and ran into the woods. Deputy Richard was assisted by Deputy J. Connor in capturing Martin, who had run into the woods about 1/8 of a mile.
Back on June 30, Martin was charged with resisting arrest; driving while license revoked; having a fictitious plate; registration violation and possessing an open container. He was taken to the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $2,250 secured bond, where he posted bond and was released from custody.
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