Chase ends after teen hits two police vehicles
By Dwight Otwell

Richard Leslie Hernandez, 18, led lawmen on a chase after a North Carolina Highway Patrolman tried to stop him for running a stop sign.

Hernandez was arrested after he plowed into two police vehicles, and got out of his car and tried to run.

The incident began about 9:30 p.m. when a highway patrolman saw Hernandez run a stop sign at Hwy. 141 and Younce Road. A Cherokee County Sheriff's vehicle joined in on the chase which led to Hwy. 19 and then to the parking lot of the Marble Post Office. Hernandez hit both a highway patrol vehicle and a sheriff's vehicle, disabling Hernandez's car, said Cherokee County Sheriff Lt. Joe Wood. Hernandez fled on foot but lawmen caught him. He resisted arrest but was taken into custody. No law enforcement officers were injured and Hernandez received first aid treatment, Wood said.

Hernandez was charged with DWI, flee/elude arrest with motor vehicle, injury to personal property (two counts), speeding, reckless driving to endanger (three counts), improper passing (three counts), fail to heed light or siren, resisting public officers (two counts) and assault with a deadly weapon on government official.