23-Year-Old Driver Arrested After Southern Johnston County Chase

FOUR OAKS – A 23-year-old Sampson County man was arrested after reportedly leading Johnston County deputies on a pursuit.

It started around 12:40 am Thursday, July 24, on US 701 South near Stewart Road.

A Johnston County deputy sheriff reported seeing a 2017 Chevy Silverado pickup traveling southbound in the northbound lane. The officer caught up with the vehicle near Strickland’s Crossroads Road and attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused to pull over.

The pursuit continued southbound on US 701, then onto Harper House Road. The truck finally came to a stop near the intersection of Harper House Road and NC 50 South.

The driver, identified as Jason Theodore Sanchez of Church Road, Newton Grove, refused to exit the truck. In a scuffle to remove the driver, Sanchez allegedly punched two officers in the face and head before he could be handcuffed.

Sanchez was charged with fleeing to elude arrest, driving while impaired, open container of alcohol, reckless driving, driving left of center, and two counts of assault on a government official.

The pickup was seized under the NC Run and Done Law.