LEWISBURG W.Va. – A Lewisburg man was arrested Saturday after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase while claiming he was trying to find his missing cat.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Lewisburg Police Department, the incident began on June 28, when an officer saw a white pickup truck driving recklessly on Washington Street. The driver, later identified as Charles Tharp, made a sharp left turn onto Holt Lane, spinning the truck’s rear tires and sliding across traffic lanes.
The officer reported that Tharp then ran a red light at Holt Lane and Jefferson Street South, continuing south on U.S. Route 219 at a high rate of speed and ignoring police lights and sirens. Officers with the Ronceverte Police Department and the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department responded to assist.
Police said Tharp waved out his window at officers during the pursuit, appearing to motion for them to follow him. The chase continued into Fairlea, where Tharp pulled into the Tractor Supply parking lot. There, officers conducted a felony traffic stop.
According to the complaint, Tharp refused repeated commands to exit his vehicle and get on the ground, shouting, “I can’t find my cat.” After several verbal commands, Tharp eventually complied but continued to yell obscenities at officers.
A search of Tharp’s truck allegedly turned up drug paraphernalia, residue and a bag of marijuana. A K-9 unit also indicated the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.
Police say field sobriety tests and a roadside impairment evaluation showed that Tharp was impaired, though a breath test showed a 0.000% blood alcohol content. Tharp agreed to a voluntary blood draw to test for other substances.
Tharp was processed at the Lewisburg Police Department and then transported to Southern Regional Jail. He faces charges including fleeing with reckless indifference, driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and obstructing an officer.
No injuries were reported during the pursuit. The case remains under investigation.
