Driver Accused Of Ramming Patrol Car, Leading Officers On Chase

MORGANTON, N.C. – A Lexington woman is in jail after ramming a patrol car, damaging a citizen’s car and leading officers on a short chase.

At approximately 11:30pm, Saturday, Morganton Department of Public Safety Officers were called the Toner’s Pub in Downtown Morganton to investigate a hit and run involving property damage.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a parked vehicle had been struck on the rear bumper; forcing it into a utility pole.  The suspect vehicle left the area; however, was located shortly afterward in the parking lot of Ingle’s on Carbon City Road.

Officers made contact with the driver, identified as 34 year-old Cassandra Queen of Lexington, NC. Officers attempted to gain cooperation from Queen using verbal de-escalation techniques; however, those efforts were not met, police say.

Officers believed Queen was under the influence of an impairing substance based on her actions and observation of suspected contraband in the car. Queen was commanded to open her car door and told she was under arrest. Officers attempted opening the door using an unlock kit; however, Queen started her engine at which point the decision was made to use a punch-tool to break the window.

Queen reportedly put her car in reverse, ramming a City of Morganton Patrol Car and exiting between two other cars, leaving the parking lot. Queen continued west on Carbon City road, making a left onto Jamestown road. Police say Queen refused to stop for officers’ blue lights and siren as she continued to drive erratically on Jamestown Road toward Interstate 40.

According to a news release Queen made a left onto Interstate 40 and proceeded eastbound as officers followed; ensuring the safety of others on the interstate. \

A Trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol successfully deployed a controlled tire deflation device which slowly deflated Queen’s tires, causing her vehicle to come to a stop just past the Enola Road exit 104.

Queen was taken into custody by Morganton Department of Public Safety where she was charged with a number of criminal offenses.

Queen’s license was already suspended for previous Driving While Impaired offenses and the manner in which she attempted to evade police led to her vehicle being seized by the State of North Carolina’s “Run & You’re Done” Law. Queen was charged with the following offenses:

Driving While Impaired
Felony Flee to Elude Arrest
Speeding
Driving While License Revoked
Hit and Run, Leaving the Scene (property damage)
3 counts of Resisting a Public Officer
Driving the Wrong Way on a Dual Lane Highway
Fail to Burn Headlamps
Failing to Stop for a Stop Light
Reckless Driving