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Vehicle erupts in flames after police chase wanted suspect across county lines

CHARLOTTE — A vehicle burst into flames after an armed and wanted man led police on a multi-county chase.

Gaston County Police said they went to Jaiquvous Williams home in Gastonia with outstanding warrants for Assault by Pointing a Gun and Injury to Real Property.

They found him parked in his car at his Gastonia home and tried to arrest him when they saw he had a gun.

Williams took off, and due to his criminal history and the fact he was armed, GCPD began pursuing him.

GCPD said they successfully deflated Williams’ tires on Highway 74 near Mockingbird Lane, but he continued to drive away. They stopped the chase around 1:36 a.m. after calling Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police to help.

Minutes later, CMPD officers found William’s vehicle wrecked in the parking lot of AUTOMAX Lube & Tune and Brakes. They found large amounts of Fentanyl in his vehicle.

A viewer told Channel 9 he was driving down Wilkinson Boulevard around 1:40 a.m. when he saw a vehicle followed by multiple Gaston County and Charlotte Mecklenburg police vehicles.

He said the vehicle hit a curb and went airborne through a fence, rolled on top of cars, and caught on fire.

Channel 9′s photojournalist Coleman Montgomery was first at the scene and caught this video of law enforcement officials trying to put the fire out.

SEE THE VIDEO BELOW:

Williams fled the scene on foot and has not been found yet. Gaston County officials are still looking for Williams.

Williams now has additional charges for Possession of Firearm by a Felon and Felony Possession of a Schedule II controlled substance.

MEDIC said no one was hospitalized from the crash.

Anyone with information on Williams is asked to contact the Gaston County Police Department at 704-866-3320 or Crime Stoppers at 704-861-8000.

This is a developing story; check wsoctv.com for updates.


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