A federal court convicted a Kernersville man who shot at a Highway Patrol Officer while driving in Orange County on multiple charges Wednesday.

Tyler Lloyd Grantz, 20, was convicted on four felony charges: knowing possession of a stolen firearm, possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing cocaine hydrochloride, possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing oxycodone, and carry and use of firearms through discharge, during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

A release from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office detailed the evidence presented at Grantz’s trial. Around 2 a.m. on March 5, 2019, a state trooper noticed Grantz driving over 100 mph on Interstate 40. As he fled, Grantz fired multiple rounds from a handgun and struck the patrol vehicle’s radiator before pulling over and firing multiple rounds from a rifle. Orange County Sheriff’s Office began a manhunt shortly after as Grantz ran from the scene on foot and arrested him around 11:30 a.m. that morning. Several schools in the area, like New Hope Elementary, AL Stanback Middle, Morris Grove Elementary and Partnership Academy, entered a soft lockdown during the manhunt.

Authorities later found Grantz stole the car and handgun he used and he possessed distribution amounts of cocaine hydrochloride and oxycodone, as well as drug packaging paraphernalia and additional ammunition.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Raleigh-Durham Safe Streets Task Force and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the Chapel Hill Police Department.

Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood shared his thoughts on the case following Grantz’s convictions.

“Incidents like this demonstrate how critical the relationships are between local, state, and federal law enforcement partners,” he said Thursday. “Those relationships allow successful collaborations like this one, whereby a dangerous individual is apprehended and successfully prosecuted in federal court.”

Grantz’s sentencing in the case is scheduled for May 11 at 2 p.m., at the same Greensboro federal courthouse as his three-day trial. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for possession of the stolen firearm, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the narcotics offenses, and a consecutive sentence of no less than ten years and up to to life for discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug crime.

Grantz has been detained in Orange County Jail since his arrest.

Photo via Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Related Stories
‹
Sheriff's Office: Moving Truck Hit and Run in Hillsborough Ends With Dramatic Chase, Stop in Greensboro
A Virginia man faces several charges in North Carolina after an extensive vehicle pursuit that began with a hit-and-run case in Orange County. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office shared a release on Monday afternoon detailing the incident from Sunday night. Law enforcement officials were dispatched at 10:20 p.m. to help the Hillsborough Police Department with […]
Orange County Sheriff's Office: Early Road Conditions Poor on Sunday Following Snow Storm
Following Saturday's snowfall in the Triangle on Saturday, law enforcement and government agencies are updating road conditions on Sunday.
Snow, Ice Create 'Treacherous' Roads in Orange County; Sheriff Urges Drivers to Stay Home
An increase in snowfall and cold temperatures on Wednesday led to rapidly deteriorated road conditions in Orange County and the surrounding area — causing several crashes and traffic slowdowns.
Driver Hits, Kills Person Changing Flat Tire Along I-40 in Orange County
One person died in Orange County along Interstate 40 as they were struck by another driver outside their vehicle while changing a flat tire.
Orange County Sheriff: Student Assaults Staff Members at Partnership Academy
A School Resource Officer from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office detained a student at Hillsborough’s Partnership Academy Tuesday after the student allegedly assaulted two staff members, per a release. The sheriff’s office says the SRO will now coordinate with the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention regarding legal consequences. After the assault, […]
Orange County Sheriff's Office Locates Missing 19-Year-Old in Rougemont
The Orange County Sheriff's Office sent out a missing persons alert Monday for Bryce Howerton of Rougemont, a high-functioning autistic man.
Heavy Rains, Flash Flooding Lead to Interstate 40 Closure and Delays in Hillsborough
UPDATE: As of 10:30 a.m., the closure at the I-40/I-85 split has reopened and Interstate 40 West at Exit 261 reopened at 9 a.m. Flash flooding from early morning rain developed on parts of Interstate 40 and Interstate 85 in Orange County on Thursday, leading to lane closures and significant traffic delays. The North Carolina […]
Carrboro Man Arrested, Charged With Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Carrboro man Monday and has charged him with multiple counts of sexual exploitation. 42-year-old Michael Robert Westendorf faces six felony warrants for second-degree and four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Second-degree exploitation includes duplicating material containing a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual […]
Orange County Sheriff: Paula Floyd Murder Suspect in Local Custody After Extradition to N.C.
UPDATE: The Orange County Sheriff's Office shared an alert on the morning of Apr. 10 saying Matthew Vukmer was now in its office's custody.
I-40 Off-Ramp in Orange County Set for Overnight Closures, Concrete Removal
The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced Monday it will begin conducting nightly closures of the west-bound off-ramp from I-40 to North Carolina Highway 86.
›