Three county chase ends in Durham, trio arrested

The incident started after a burglary alarm was reported at Eagle's Gas Station on Hampton Pointe Boulevard in Hillsborough at approximately 4:40 a.m. A witness said they saw a burgundy Dodge Caravan leave the store.

Moments later, an Orange County Sheriff's Office deputy spotted the van and attempted to stop it on Interstate 85 South in Efland. The van, which investigators said was reported stolen from Raleigh on Nov. 24, led authorities down Interstate 85 to N.C. Highway 119 into Mebane, then back into Hillsborough on U.S. Highway 70 before entering Durham on Interstate 85, authorities said. The chase ended when the van crashed into a dumpster and a pole on the 600 block of Liberty Street at about 5:30 a.m.

Lasharla Knight, 37, of Durham, was arrested at the crash scene. Clifton Taiwan Sharpless, 42, and Jerry Lee Wilson, 43, both of Durham, were later arrested at a Liberty Street apartment.

Sharpless is charged with three counts of felony breaking and entering, three counts of felony larceny, possession of stolen property, felony speeding to elude and parole violation. He remained in the Orange County jail Sunday under a $87,500 bond.

Wilson is charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and possession of stolen property. He remained in the Orange County jail Sunday under a $15,000 bond. Knight is charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and possession of stolen property. She remained in the Orange County jail Sunday under a $13,750 bond.

Authorities believe surveillance video may tie the trio to other recent store burglaries, including two each in Durham and Hillsborough and one in Orange County.