A 53-year-old woman was taken into custody Tuesday night after leading officers on a multi-county chase that began and ended in Carthage, according to authorities.
Troopers say the chase started when Carthage Police attempted to stop a vehicle for a driver who had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court. The driver initially pulled over but refused to roll down her window or cooperate with the officer before speeding away.
The pursuit stretched through parts of Moore, Lee and Chatham counties before coming to an end along Highway 15-501 near Legion Hut Road, where officers attempted to box in the vehicle. Troopers said the driver hit a Carthage Police Department vehicle head-on, then reversed and struck a Moore County Sheriff’s Office vehicle before trying to turn onto Legion Hut Road.
Officials identified the driver as Ronda Michele Jesse, 53, of Connell Road in Carthage.
Ronda Michele Jesse (Moore County Sheriff’s Office)
The chase ended moments later when Jesse pulled into a driveway and was taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities said both police vehicles sustained only minor damage and no one was injured.
Officials said Jesse is facing multiple charges related to the chase, in addition to the original warrant for failure to appear.
Any person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
