The Star-News
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) -- A robbery suspect led authorities on a car chase through town and onto the airfield of Wilmington International Airport before he was caught hiding near the terminal.
Antonio Lacewell was arrested early Saturday and held on 11 charges including assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement official, speeding to elude arrest, reckless driving, speeding and damage to real property.
Police began chasing Lacewell shortly after midnight when a person who had been riding in his car accused him of robbery, said Lt. Russ Fales of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department.
The car was spotted by deputies in the northern end of the county. Fales said Lacewell rammed at least one deputy’s cruiser before he drove up a dead-end road next to the airport, then crashed through a closed gate and headed across the airfield.
Authorities lost track of the car when the driver turned off its lights, then abandoned it on a taxiway and ran off.
Deputies, Wilmington police and airport security set up a perimeter around the airport and, after about two hours, caught Lacewell in some bushes near the new terminal building, Fales said.
Airport Deputy Director Julie Wilsey said the airport reported the incident to the Transportation Security Administration, as required, but the agency declined to take the report since there was no planned breach of security.
She said there was no danger to travelers because Friday night’s last flights had already come in by the time the incident occurred.
Fales said no robbery charge was filed because authorities were unable to substantiate the claim.