Local

Missing man who ran from police found dead in Kings Mountain quarry

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — A man involved in a police chase who eventually ran from officers in Cleveland County Thursday night was found dead in a quarry in Kings Mountain, authorities said Monday.

Shelby police were chasing Melvin Lenord Thursday and said the pursuit ended in Kings Mountain when Lenord jumped out of his car and ran away. Officers looked for Lenord and called a K-9 unit to the scene to find a track, but they could not find him.

On Friday morning, someone came to the Kings Mountain Police Department and filed a missing person report for Lenord.

Officials said that on Saturday, police found out that Lenord made a phone call and that he might have a broken arm. Officers traced the call to the Martin Marietta quarry near Interstate 85. Police coordinated with Cleveland County Emergency management and Highway Patrol and searched that area Saturday and Sunday using a helicopter, drones and all-terrain vehicles.

Police said they exhausted the search of the area and were not been able to find Lenord over the weekend. On Monday, his body was found in the quarry.

“On behalf of the Kings Mountain Police Department and the city of Kings Mountain, we would like to send our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Lenord,” Chief Lisa Proctor said in a news release.

The State Bureau of Investigation has been called to investigate the incident.