LANCASTER, S.C. — A man was arrested Tuesday in Mecklenburg County after a police chase in Lancaster on Labor Day led to a shooting incident involving an officer, authorities said.
Quinterius Lamont Clinton, 27, is facing charges for attempted murder, failure to stop for blue lights, reckless driving and speeding.
It all started around noon after police said Clinton led officers on a chase. That chase eventually led to shots being fired by police.
According to the police department, an officer was monitoring traffic on a bypass when a red vehicle was spotted driving recklessly. The officer caught up with the vehicle and learned it had also fled from police last week.
Police said the driver, Clinton, pulled the vehicle over but that’s when he tried to hit the officer with his car.
BREAKING: Police say this is the man wanted in that chase and officer-involved shooting in Lancaster today. His name is Quinterius Lamont Clinton. They say he is wanted for attempted murder. Details at 6pm. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/0i4aEcFLJP
— Tina Terry (@TinaTerryWSOC9) September 6, 2021
The officer fired a gun, and the car sped down Riverside Road toward University Drive, making a right turn. No one was hit by gunfire and no one was hurt.
Police said Clinton ditched the car in a yard on University Drive and ran away.
“He exited his vehicle while it was still running and ran into the woods,” said a witness who did not want to be identified. “The officer was far enough behind where he couldn’t chase after him, because he slowed down to avoid hitting my house when he drove through the yard.”
Police had asked everyone to avoid the areas around University Drive, Mungo Road and Riverside Road if possible. Authorities called off the search for Clinton late Monday afternoon.
It happened in a quiet part of Lancaster that caught many residents by surprise.
“Just because you live in a nice neighborhood, the way things are, you can’t sit back and expect you are not going to see things like this happen,” resident Richard Tate said.
Update: Police say the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous. They say all of this started after he led officers on a chase and it eventually led to an officer-involved shooting. Nobody was hurt. @wsoctv
— Tina Terry (@TinaTerryWSOC9) September 6, 2021
Officials said Clinton will be transported back to South Carolina soon.
(WATCH: Reporter Tina Terry’s LIVE update from the scene in Lancaster, South Carolina)
(WATCH BELOW: Father of man shot by police says officer ‘deserves all the praise in the world’)
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