WILMINGTON — A local gang member was arrested Thursday night after eluding authorities for nearly three weeks after allegedly ramming a police vehicle with a car he was driving, according to WPD spokesperson Jennifer Dandron.
The coordinated arrest was made by members of the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Wilmington Police Department, and New Hanover County’s Sheriff’s Office. Officers were able to locate Maurice McKeithan, 24, then executed a search warrant for a residence on North 7th street.
Upon the arrest, officers recovered two stolen handguns and unknown amounts of marijuana and heroin.
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McKeithan now faces a handful of serious charges: three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill, possession of heroin and marijuana, three counts of resisting public officers, speeding to elude arrest with aggravating factors, hit-and-run while leaving a scene with property damage, and reckless driving to endanger.
At 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 16, officers of the Mobile Field Taskforce — made up of members from the WPD and NHCSO — were patrolling Love Alley between 6th and 7th Street when they encountered McKeithan, who had outstanding warrants for his arrest.
When officers approached McKeithan on foot, “he intentionally rammed his vehicle into their car, sped off in the direction of a WPD officer and NHCSO deputy, who were close to being struck by his vehicle,” according to Dandron. “McKeithan then fled the scene at a high rate of speed.”
The suspect, a validated gang member, is currently held in New Hanover County Jail on a $400,000 bond.
