Early Wednesday morning, deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man from Mecklenburg County after he fled from a traffic stop on the interstate, crashed in a residential neighborhood, and ran from the scene. Deputies, with the assistance of the State Highway Patrol, established a perimeter, deployed a drone, and apprehended James D. Smallwood, 36.
A deputy initiated the traffic stop minutes before midnight Tuesday after observing a vehicle traveling 91 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone. After initially pulling over in a blind curve near mile marker 277 on I-40 westbound, the driver failed to comply with an order to move his vehicle to the breakdown lane. Instead, Smallwood accelerated back onto the highway, exited the interstate at Exit 266, and turned onto Whitfield Road. Shortly thereafter, he crashed at the intersection of Turkey Farm Road with Barnhill Place and ran from the scene.
After a brief search, deputies took Smallwood into custody for felony speeding to elude arrest; possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver; and maintaining a vehicle for the manufacture, sale, or delivery of cocaine. He also faces the following misdemeanor charges: possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; willfully and unlawfully resisting, delaying, or obstructing a public officer; injury to the trees, crops, or land of another; driving while license revoked; speeding; and failure to stop for blue lights and siren…