Ridgeway man charged for 2 police pursuits in VA before capture in NC

Ashton Wright of Ridgeway, VAPhoto byHCSO

A 21-year-old Ridgeway man is in Rockingham County jail in North Carolina awaiting extradition after allegedly leading two police pursuits in Virginia.

According to Henry County Sheriff’s Office, at around 12:48 a.m. a caller reported that a black Ford Mustang was doing burnouts and speeding near the 15000 block of A.L. Philpott Hwy. That caller reportedly followed the Mustang until it entered Martinsville where Martinsville Police got involved and attempted to stop the Mustang.

HCSO said the Mustang driver ignored the Martinsville police, increased speed, and initiated a police chase down Memorial Blvd. During the pursuit, Martinsville police lost sight of the Mustang near Koehler Rd. and Appalachian Drive.

Police determined that the Mustang was registered to Ashton Wright who lives on Lee Ford Camp Rd. in Ridgeway, and HCSO said its deputies went to that residence.

When the deputies arrived, the Mustang was reportedly in the driveway still running, and HCSO said when the deputies pulled into the driveway, the car took off driving through the yard.

The Mustang allegedly began another police chase that led to Rt. 87 and then across the state lines into North Carolina. HCSO continued the pursuit and noted that Wright was driving at speeds “well over 100 mph.”

On West Meadow Rd. in Eden, NC, a Henry County deputy was finally able to perform a successful P.I.T. manuever and the Mustang slid into an embankment, HCSO reported.

Wright was taken into custody.

Henry County charged him with felony eluding. Martinsville charged him with felony eluding. And Eden has charged him with reckless driving.

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