John Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: A stolen vehicle with North Carolina license plates was recovered Friday morning after a police chase to Pima via Thatcher.
by John Johnson
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
Thatcher – Authorities recovered the stolen vehicle in North Carolina Friday morning after a chase between Thatcher and Pima took place. Two suspects were arrested and taken to prison.
The stolen black 2016 Lincoln MKS was recovered at a Speedway convenience store in Pima, and the chase probably ended around 9:30 a.m. when the suspects were pulled over at a gas station and taken into custody. .
Graham County dispatch officials received a report from the Lenoir, North Carolina Police Department at approximately 9:02 a.m. that a car stolen in North Carolina may be in Graham County. North Carolina police said a suspect made a credit card transaction at a Graham County gas station.
About 20 minutes later, Thatcher police officers spotted a suspicious vehicle traveling west on Highway 70 in Thatcher. Authorities from the Safford Police Department, the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety joined the chase, which ended in Pima.
Driver Paula Evans, 32, and passenger Matthew Sands, 43, were wanted by North Carolina but were successfully detained and placed in the Graham County Adult Detention Facility. Both men face charges in Arizona for possession of stolen vehicles, but Chief Thatcher Shaffen Woods said they are likely to be extradited to North Carolina where they will face charges. suggested.
