VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A trooper was injured after the driver of a blue Dodge Charger fled a traffic stop in Virginia Beach on Wednesday morning, state police said.
Virginia State Police, Virginia Beach Police and Naval Criminal Investigative Service worked together to arrest Jayden Wallace, 23, of Virginia Beach. Police located his 2019 Dodge Charger Wednesday afternoon in the 1100 block of Woodfern Place.
Court records show Wallace’s home address as Fayetteville, NC, and the Navy confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Wallace joined in 2022.
A spokesperson wrote “The Navy is aware of the arrest of Fire Controlman 3rd Class Jayden Wallace, assigned to Surface Combat Systems Training Command Hampton Roads. The Navy takes these matters seriously and is cooperating with the Virginia State Police in the investigation.”
Wallace was taken into custody without incident and has been charged with reckless driving by speed, felony elude, felony hit-and-run and numerous other traffic offenses. He is scheduled for arraignment Thursday afternoon on those charges.
Around 5:15 a.m., the driver of the Dodge Charger was reportedly going 125 mph in a 55 mph zone on I-264 eastbound near Laskin Road in Virginia Beach, state police said.
When the driver failed to stop for state police, the trooper chased him on eastbound Interstate 264 to the Birdneck Road exit ramp.
The driver turned right onto Americus Avenue, a dead-end road, and was blocked in by the trooper’s vehicle. Ironically, Americus Avenue is next to the city police training center.
Joshua Dickerson lives in the neighborhood with his wife and infant son and was upset about the chase.
“Especially now that I have a 6-month-old,” Dickerson said. “I don’t really have a lot of tolerance. You’re putting other people’s lives in danger and the people around you.”
“It’s a danger and lives could be lost,” said Silas Darden, who lives next door to where the trooper was struck.
When the trooper got out of her vehicle, Wallace sped off, striking the trooper. He remained at large for several hours until his arrest Thursday afternoon about a mile away.
Photos provided below by police from the trooper’s dashcam show the Wallace’s vehicle. WAVY confirmed with state police that the trooper did draw her gun, as seen on the far left of the first image, but did not fire it.
Courtesy: VSP
Courtesy: VSP
The trooper went to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The registration and license plate number did not match the make and model of the car.
This case will be presented to the Commonwealth Attorney, who will then decide if further charges will be placed.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.