Short chase ends in shoplifting arrest

A King man has been arrested in connection with an alleged shoplifting incident at Dollar General in Meadows, according to a statement released by Stokes County Sheriff Joey Lemons.

On July 1, while on routine patrol, Det. S. Pegram and Dep. D. Lawson observed a motorized scooter drive from behind the store on N.C. Highway 8 & 89 and run a stop sign traveling onto Dodgetown Road, the sheriff stated. The officers also observed that the scooter was not displaying the proper registration tag.

“Deputies initiated a traffic stop on the scooter, and the driver refused to stop, leading deputies on a short vehicle chase on Dodgetown Road. The scooter was eventually stopped,” Lemons stated.

Deputies detained Daniel Eugene Pratt, 43, of King.

“Upon a search of the suspect, deputies discovered multiple items that had just been stolen from the Family Dollar store,” the sheriff alleged. Deputies also allege that the suspect attempted to use a credit card that did not belong to him to purchase items from the store then fled without paying.

Pratt was charged with felony flee to elude, felony identity theft, damage to property, larceny and possession of stolen goods. Bond was set at $100,000 secured with an Aug. 21 court date.

All charges are presumed innocent.

“I want to thank these deputies for being proactive, and keeping an eye out for things that just seem to be out of place. In this case, it solved a crime committed against one of our businesses before they even had a chance to report it,” Lemons said in the statement.