Williamsburg Police are looking for a man who eluded them and escaped into the woods after fleeing a traffic stop Wednesday.
Police believe 33-year-old Smithfield resident Raymond Lee Young was the driver of a late model gold Toyota Camry with Maryland license plates that was observed entering an intersection without stopping around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday. An officer pulled the vehicle over, but it sped off after the officer got out of his police car and began to approach it, said Maj. Greg Riley of the Williamsburg Police Department.
Riley said Williamsburg Police have a policy of not pursuing unless someone is suspected of committing a violent felony. The officer gave a description of the vehicle, which was seen 15 minutes later by another officer on York Street. It was crossing the double yellow lines to pass other vehicles in the oncoming lane of traffic.
That officer attempted to stop the Camry, which turned onto Quarterpath Road and then drove into the Quarterpath Recreation Center’s parking lot. From there, the vehicle entered the grass surrounding the building and then drove behind the softball fields, Riley said.
The vehicle came to a stop behind the fields, where Young fled from the vehicle into the wooded area, Riley said. The officer searched the area but could not locate the suspect.
Young has been charged with failing to stop at a stop sign, driving with a suspended license seventh offense, reckless driving and felony evade and elude.
Riley said Young, a 6-foot, 300-pound black male, is still at large. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call Crime Line at 888-LOCK-U-UP (888-562-5887).
