GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C.-- A man, who was already wanted on an outstanding warrant, briefly stole a Guilford County Sheriff’s Deputy’s vehicle on Thursday night is still on the run, according to the Sheriff's Department.
Col. Randy Powers says the deputy, who is also a SWAT officer, came upon a man walking along Kivett Dr. around 7:45 p.m. The deputy determined the man, 31-year-old Carl "Preston" Davis, was wanted and put him under arrest. Col. Powers says the deputy was not in his usual squad car. This vehicle had no cage in the back, so the deputy cuffed Davis and sat him in the front seat.
Davis told the officer he and his girlfriend had run out of gas on Jackson Lake Rd. The deputy went to check on her and found the car there but the girlfriend gone.
At that time, the deputy received information there was a break-in in progress nearby on Jackson Lake Rd. and he was the only resource in the area. Col. Powers says it’s not policy to respond to another scene with a suspect in the vehicle, but dispatch asked the deputy to go and he agreed.
Col. Powers says when the deputy arrived at the break-in scene and stepped out of the car for a short time, Davis was able to get his arms in front of his body. The deputy had left the keys in the ignition so the car's lights would continue flashing. Davis got into the driver's side and took off in the deputy’s car. Col. Powers says other deputies were soon in pursuit and the suspect drove only a short distance before abandoning the deputy’s vehicle and running.
It turns out, Davis' girlfriend had walked from their car to get help at a nearby home. The homeowners were frightened someone was trying to break into their home and called authorities. That was the call the deputy had responded to. Authorities eventually determined the break-in call was a misunderstanding.
Law enforcement tracked the suspect for hours using helicopters and drones, but lost him.
The deputy’s car has been recovered. Davis remains on the run. Col. Powers didn't’t immediately know what Davis had been wanted for, but said he’s not necessarily considered dangerous to the public.