Alleged Sampson Car Thief Leads Authorities On High-Speed Chase

Clinton authorities said they found a stolen minivan behind a barn, so they waited to see if anyone would come by to claim it. Eventually, Joseph Carr, Jr. did come by, but authorities were not able to catch him.

Clinton police and Sampson County deputies followed Carr for miles. Authorities said Carr ran red lights and, at one point, even hit a car.

"The charge he had, breaking and entering, stolen vehicle, is nothing compared to what he would have been facing if he would have killed the lady in the intersection," Officer Chris Oates, of the Clinton Police Department.

Eventually, Carr almost lost control himself when he swerved to avoid another wreck and he pulled into the path of an oncoming truck.

"You got one thing on your mind -- basically catch this guy, and then while you're trying to do that, you've got to look out for everybody else," Oates said.

Finally, officers used stop-sticks to stop the chase. Authorities said Carr drove on three flat tires until spinning out and running off on foot.

"[It was] so quick," witness Evelyn Boykin said. "I never saw anything like that in Clinton before."

A swarm of officers later arrested Carr. Ironically, he was captured a few hundred yards from the police station.

Authorities said the chase lasted about 15 minutes. The woman whose vehicle Carr hit at the intersection said she is sore, but otherwise OK. Authorities said Carr faces 21 charges.