North Carolina man on stolen tractor leads cops on wild chase

A North Carolina man wielding a knife tried to mow down pedestrians with a stolen tractor earlier than main police on a wild chase for a number of miles, cops stated.

Police stated they obtained a name a couple of “tractor being pushed erratically” and deliberately chasing down individuals in a Boone car parking zone Tuesday. The motive force struck a number of automobiles, a dumpster and even a church, Chief Andy Le Beau stated.

Video of the chase exhibits at the least a number of regulation enforcement automobiles pursuing a John Deere tractor because it swerves down a city highway, plows by a cease signal and heads into the Route 421 intersection.

At the least 8 cop automobiles with flashing lights meet on the junction in an effort to cease the farming automobile, however the tractor continues speeding by the pink gentle.

Your complete hours-long chase didn’t exceed speeds of 20 miles per hour, Watauga On-line reported.

“The stolen tractor was being operated by an individual who we’re very acquainted with, Mr. Ronnie Hicks,” Le Beau stated.

Officers tried to make use of cease sticks to halt Hicks as he barreled towards on-coming visitors, however the tire-deflation gadget was no match for the John Deere.

Hicks then purposefully rammed right into a Boone police automotive, La Beau alleges, earlier than turning within the route of the city’s elementary faculty.

“Decided to not let him get that far,” La Beau gave his officers the go-ahead to shoot out the tractor’s entrance tire.

Hicks was capable of proceed driving a number of extra miles with out the entrance tire, however ultimately pulled onto a personal drive, cops stated.

“Mr. Hicks then jumped off the tractor and was wielding a knife,” stated La Beau.

An officer deployed a Taser, took Hicks into custody and ended the wild tractor chase.

Cops haven’t but introduced expenses towards him.