Lee County deputy hurt after crashing his cruiser into storefront during pursuit

Cory Fennell, 37, was being held at the Lee County jail in lieu of $350,000 bond after he was caught by police.

Authorities said Fennell was caught while hiding underneath a crawl space at an abandoned home in the 300 block of Chisholm Street in Sanford.

According to officials, the deputy's cruiser crashed into a store at 128 S. Steele Street near Carthage Street around 12:30 a.m. Monday after the pursuit.

The sheriff's office has not identified the deputy who was hurt, and information about the trooper's condition was also pending.

A witness to the chase told WRAL News the deputy was chasing a red Kia Soul.

The deputy tried to pull the vehicle over after someone reported a suspicious car traveling on Deep River Road.

When the deputy crashed, the Kia kept going but slammed on its brakes about a 1/2 mile down Steele Street.

According to the witness, the driver got out and ran. Two other men stayed in the car and were taken into custody. After about 30 minutes, the driver was arrested.

The store front that the deputy crashed into had been the home of a women's clothing store named Hi-Lites before it shut down.

Nicole Allen told WRAL News that she purchased the building about a month ago and plans to open a new boutique that will be called Purple Poodle Company.

She said she will go forward with the plan to open the women's clothing store, and she expressed concern about the deputy.