Early Morning Chase Ends After Suspect Crashes into Telephone Pole

During the early morning hours of Saturday, December 23, An Officer with the Morganton Department of Public Safety discovered a vehicle traveling on North Green Street with an expired registration plate. The Officer attempted to conduct a vehicle stop; however, the driver began to flee from Law Enforcement. As the driver approached NC 181, he attempted to make a left turn onto Stephens Road and lost control. This resulted in the vehicle veering off the roadway and striking a telephone pole. The driver was then arrested and identified as Justin Carnell Scott, 48, of Morganton. Scott was charged with the following offenses:

• Felony Flee to Elude Arrest
• Reckless Driving to Endanger
• Speeding
• Driving During Revocation
• Expired Registration
• Failure to Maintain Lane Control
• Inspection Violation

The vehicle that Scott was driving was seized pursuant to NCGS 20-141.5. Scott received a $10,000 secured bond and a first appearance on January 5, 2024. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol assisted with conducting a traffic crash investigation as a result of this incident.