Family of man killed in high-speed chase doesn't understand why he fled, why officers pursued

Marcus Richardson, 34, crashed outside Youngsville in Franklin County after he sped off from a traffic stop, police said.

"I just want to know exactly what happened," his mother, Phyllis Franklin, said Thursday.

Richardson was pulled over after police ran the tag of the Chevy Impala he was driving and learned the owner’s driver’s license had expired. The Impala belonged to Richardson's girlfriend, and by the time she arrived on the scene, police had run Richardson's ID and found that he had outstanding warrants for felony fleeing to elude and misdemeanor resisting a public officer.

"Vehicle headed east on East Cedar Street. One black male wanted for flee to elude, [resisting an officer]," a call crackled over Wake Forest police communications as the pursuit started.

Police said Richardson reached speeds of 100 mph as he headed into Franklin County along a winding two-lane road.

"Careless and reckless, passing cars, double yellow, speeds of 90 on North White," an officer relayed to dispatch.

Less than two minutes later, police spotted the mangled Impala on South Cross Street, near Thompson Circle, outside Youngsville.

"Rollover [with injury], notify EMS," came the call into dispatch. "Be advised, suspect is trapped under the car."

Police said Richardson lost control of the car and hit a minivan driven by Alexander Castellon, who suffered minor injuries.

"Baby, why did you take off like that? Why?" Franklin asked. "I haven't got an answer yet, so I don't know."

Richardson spent six years in federal prison on gun charges and was on house arrest until last week, his mother said. He had regular appointments with his probation officer, so she doesn't understand how he could have had outstanding warrants.

"He's already on probation. The system knows he's already on probation. So, if he had outstanding warrants, why was he still out here?" she asked.

The warrants were in connection with a November incident in which Raleigh police said Richardson similarly fled from them. Officers didn't pursue him then, and merely issued warrants for his arrest.

Federal probation officials apparently didn't check the North Carolina database of outstanding warrants, however.

Richardson's family also questioned why police chased him on a narrow country road.

"Why would they chase him down this road?" Franklin asked. "It's dark and got curves in it and all this type stuff."

Bill Crabtree, a spokesman for Wake Forest, said in an email to WRAL News that officers followed proper procedures. North White Street is "a standard, NCDOT-maintained road," he said, and police were "never directly behind" Richardson and were merely chasing taillights in the distance.

"The closest that we can estimate that we were ever behind him was a minimum of one-half mile," Crabtree said. "Officers did not catch up to him until they came across the scene of the accident."

Wake Forest police extended condolences to Richardson's family and are willing to answer any questions they have, he said.

"We understand that, when situations such as this occur, family and loved ones may have unresolved questions and concerns. We invite them to contact the Wake Forest Police Department, so we may answer their questions and attempt to address their concerns about the circumstances surrounding the pursuit," he said.

Franklin said she is still trying to process what happened.

"I miss him so dearly right now," she said. "He would do anything for anybody."