The Orange County Sheriff’s Office charged two men after an attempted traffic stop led to a foot chase through Hillsborough Sunday night.
Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle on Orange Grove Road Sunday after observing the driver speeding and passing other motorists across a double yellow line. The vehicle, a 2009 Lexus, failed to stop before eventually spinning out near the intersection of Oakdale Drive and Churton Street near the ABC store, where the driver jumped and ran from the vehicle.
One deputy detained two passengers while another deputy pursued the driver through the Lory Apartments complex, and a pond on property, before apprehending him.
Deputies determined the driver, 22-year old Richard Ale Gutierrez-Dunlap of Chapel Hill, had outstanding warrants from Durham County, including robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, second degree kidnapping, second degree burglary, larceny of a motor vehicle, and larceny after breaking and entering.
Gutierrez-Dunlap also had orders for arrest from Wake County, including two counts of failure to appear in court for three counts of breaking and entering motor vehicles and felony possession of goods or property.
Additionally, the Lexus he was operating had been reported stolen in Durham County. Inside the vehicle, deputies located 53 Xanax pills along with plastic baggies and a digital scale. They also located key fobs to several vehicles and a ski mask.
“What started out as a traffic stop for multiple violations resulted in the fortuitous location and ultimate apprehension of an individual who otherwise may have continued to evade the criminal justice system,” said Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood. “The driver was not only endangering people on the roadways, he was operating a stolen vehicle, and dealing a controlled substance. He now faces charges in three counties and more might be forthcoming after investigators process additional evidence found in the vehicle.”
According to a press release, deputies served the outstanding criminal processes and also charged Gutierrez-Dunlap with felony flee to elude, possession of a stolen vehicle, careless and reckless driving, possession of schedule IV controlled substance, and maintaining a vehicle to sell and deliver schedule IV drugs. He is in the Detention Center under a combined bond of $78,000 and is set to appear in court Monday.
Deputies also charged 19-year old Carlos Galvez, one of Gutierrez-Dunlap’s passengers, with possession of schedule IV drugs and operating a vehicle to sell and deliver controlled substances. He will also appear in court Monday. Galvez, of Durham, is in the detention center under a $2,000 secured bond. Deputies released the other passenger, a fifteen-year old, to the custody of his parents.
Officials say neither deputy suffered any injuries in the encounter.
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