Vehicle Pursuit Ends in Suspect Arrest

At approximately 1:30 p.m. today, a Raleigh Police Department officer observed a vehicle parked behind a building in the 1900 block of Poole Road. The officer developed information that the registered owner of the vehicle had outstanding warrants for driving while license revoked and for speeding.

A short time later, a subject entered the vehicle through the driver’s door and the RPD officer approached him on foot, engaged the subject in conversation and determined that he was in fact the individual named in the outstanding warrants. When the officer informed the 35-year-old male that he was under arrest, the suspect put the car in reverse and attempted to flee. That action pinned the officer against the open driver’s side door of the vehicle, but he eventually was able to free himself and avoid injury.

The suspect fled the scene but was spotted a short time later. A vehicle pursuit was initiated in the vicinity of eastbound I-40 and Jones Sausage Road and proceeded via Jones Sausage onto Garner Road. Based upon the information available at the time to an RPD supervisor monitoring the pursuit, a determination was made to discontinue the department’s involvement.

RPD has obtained arrest warrants charging the suspect, Steven Earl Purnell (DOB 1/21/77), with assault with a deadly weapon (his vehicle) on a law enforcement officer and with felony speeding to elude. Purnell was transported to WakeMed for medical evaluation. When he is released by the hospital, the two arrest warrants obtained today will be served, and Purnell will be transported to the Wake County Jail. The pending warrants for driving while license revoked and speeding will also be served during that process. If the investigation of the incident determines that any other charges are appropriate, they will be applied.

Other law enforcement agencies involved in today’s incident may pursue additional charges, and they will provide that information, if applicable.