Florida murder suspect arrested after multi-county police chase in NC

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. — A homicide suspect out of Florida was arrested Thursday evening after a police chase throughout three counties in North Carolina.

The Rutherford County Sheriff mentioned Matthew Scott Flores is needed for a minimum of one killing in Hardee County, Florida. Flores was hospitalized after a crash when the chase ended alongside Primary Road and Hollis Highway in Ellenboro.

The North Carolina Freeway Patrol and U.S. marshals began chasing Flores simply earlier than 6 p.m. Thursday.

It carried by way of McDowell and Burke counties for greater than 50 miles earlier than Rutherford County deputies joined.

The Freeway Patrol was pressured to make use of cease sticks and conduct a PIT maneuver, which prompted Flores to crash the Hyundai Stinger he was driving.

Flores jumped out and ran, however troopers caught as much as him and took him into custody.

Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg mentioned Flores complained he was damage, so that they introduced him to Rutherford Regional Well being System.

Ellenburg mentioned it was a harmful chase in very moist situations.

“However that is one scenario the place you must maintain going,” the sheriff mentioned. “You’ve obtained one thing of this caliber and our residents might be in danger with the sort of suspect within the county. We’ve to take all dangers and do what’s essential to take the suspect into custody.”

Ellenburg mentioned that an extradition listening to is about for Friday morning on the Rutherford County Courthouse to find out if Flores will waive extradition again to Florida.

Investigators in Florida are heading to North Carolina as a part of their investigation and are anticipated to reach someday Friday.

The Rutherford County sheriff mentioned they’re going to stroll Flores out of the hospital and take him to jail Thursday evening.

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