
YORK COUNTY — Virginia State Police arrested a Newport News man stolen vehicle who had been in an earlier incident with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office after a short pursuit.
According to Virginia State Police, state police observed a 2020 Ram pick-up truck that was reportedly in an earlier incident Wednesday at approximately 12:27 p.m.
State police ran the vehicle registration, and it had been reported stolen. Police said an attempt was made to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated.
State police pursued the vehicle into York County at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Commonwealth Drive, where police said they used a precision immobilization technique to stop the vehicle. The driver then fled on foot and was apprehended shortly after.
The driver, identified as 33-year-old Robert Lee Manny of the 5000 block of Roanoke Avenue, Newport News, was transported to Riverside Regional Medical Center to be evaluated for injuries.
While at the hospital, police said Manny asked to use the restroom and stated he could not wait to be transported to the jail. The trooper allowed Manny to use a restroom in the emergency room designed for single occupancy. Within minutes, police said the trooper heard a commotion inside the restroom, opened the door, and found that Manny had fled through the ceiling tiles. The hospital was placed on lockdown status and law enforcement began a search of the premises. Manny was captured a short time later.
Lee faces the following charges by Virginia State Police: felony eluding police, felony hit and run, felony assault on a law enforcement officer, and possession of Sch I/II narcotics.
Additional charges may be stemming from the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, police said.