Johnston County traffic stop, chase bust two wanted felons

A trooper pulled over a 1996 Oldsmobile around 3:20 p.m. after clocking it at 72 mph in a 55-mph zone on N.C. Highway 39, near N.C. Highway 42, authorities said. The trooper took driver Gloria Ann Foust, 32, to the patrol car for questioning after discovering that her license was suspended.

Her passenger, Miguel Cordell Chestnut, 24, then jumped into the driver's seat of the Oldsmobile and sped away, troopers said. Authorities pursued Chestnut, who they say drove over 100 mph at one point.

The chase ended when the Oldsmobile crashed into another vehicle on N.C. 42, near Buffalo Road. Troopers said Chestnut tried to run away but was caught.

Investigators said the car was filled with wrapped Christmas gifts they believe were taken from a home on Price Road near Selma shortly before the traffic stop. Foust and Chestnut are also being investigated in connection with other break-ins in northern Johnston County.

Foust, of 309 Hunting Drive in Selma, was charged with felony breaking and entering, driving with revoked license and speeding. She was also charged with outstanding warrants for attempted breaking-and-entering in Johnston County and a felony probation violation and felony breaking-and-entering from Wilson.

Bond information for her was unavailable.

She is listed as an absconder from probation by the state Department of Correction. Online records show she has six convictions dating to 2001, including embezzlement, trespassing, communicating threats and driving with revoked license.

Chestnut, of 1200 Industrial Ave. in Wilson, was charged with felony breaking and entering, hit-and-run, felony speeding to elude arrest, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, careless and reckless driving, speeding, improper passing and resisting, delaying or obstructing an officer. He was also served with outstanding warrants for a probation violation in Wilson County and failure to pay a citation in Johnston County.

He was given an $89,000 secured bond.

Chestnut served a 4-month sentence earlier this year for various driving violations, DOC records state. He also spent 2½ years in prison for 2006 convictions for assault inflicting serious injury and common-law robbery.