Man accused in chase, crash on I-95 facing federal charges

Raymond Lee Bryant Jr., 44, of Roseboro, was previously charged with driving while impaired, felony speeding to elude, resisting a public official and failure to heed to blue light and sirens.

Authorities said Bryant was driving a white 1996 Ford Ranger in a reckless manner on May 3 and caused a wreck around 4:20 p.m. in Harnett County.

Bryant then got out of his truck and shot into the driver's side window of a tractor trailer that was stopped due to the crash, Sheriff Wayne Coats said during a press conference Thursday night.

The driver and passenger exited the tractor-trailer, and Bryant unsuccessfully tried to steal the tractor-trailer before stealing a pickup truck at gunpoint and fleeing north on I-95.

Bryant also attempted to steal a second tractor-trailer, but the driver locked the door and fled as he approached, authorities said.

Highway Patrol said Bryant, who had two shotguns in his possession at the time, was taken into custody without incident near mile marker 149 in Nash County. Authorities also seized 11 ounces of marijuana from Bryant.

Federal charges filed against Bryant on Thursday include carjacking, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in retaliation to the carjacking, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

If convicted on the federal charges, Bryant could face a minimum of 55 years in prison.