MOUNT OLIVE, NC (WNCT) — A Mount Olive police officer who was airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville after crashing a vehicle while pursuing a hijacking suspect on Saturday was released on Sunday.
Police Chief Jason Hughes said officers were called to the Mount Olive Walmart to deal with a suspicious person. Upon arrival, officers contacted the suspect, Edward Carter Batts of Warsaw.
Batts then jumped into one of the police vehicles and drove off. Officer Angel Yeoman pursued the hijacking suspect and the stolen police car traveling south on US Highway 117 towards I-40.
Officer Yeoman lost control of the car she was driving and crashed at exit 355 on I-40. Batts continued to flee and was apprehended at a short distance.
Yeoman was airlifted to Vidant Medical Center. She has since been discharged from hospital to recover at home.
“I would like to personally express my gratitude to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Warsaw Police Department, Warsaw State Highway Patrol, North Carolina, to Faison Fire and Rescue, emergency medical personnel and our dispatchers to get our injured officer the help she needed and assist her in this investigation,” Chief Hughes said in a communicated. “Everyone at Mount Olive Police Department is so grateful for the outpouring of prayers and phone calls we have received with concern for the injured officer.”
Batts is charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon against a government official, criminal flight to escape arrest, felony theft of a motor vehicle and property damage. He is being held on $40,000 bond.
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