NEWBERRY COUNTY — Just before midnight Monday, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office was notified by OnStar that a vehicle stolen in an armed carjacking incident in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C., was traveling several rural roads in the Peak area of Newberry County as well as crossing into Richland County.
As deputies of Newberry, Richland and Lexington counties were closing in, the stolen vehicle crossed over U.S. 176 and headed toward Chapin. Just outside Chapin on U.S. 76, the deputies attempted to stop the suspect and he fled toward Newberry County reaching speeds of 100 mph. The chase came into Newberry County and continued toward Prosperity.
Because the units had been saturating the area around Peak searching for the vehicle there were no other units between the suspect and the City of Newberry. The shift supervisor called for the Newberry Police Department and S.C. Highway Patrol to respond to Prosperity.
In addition, Sheriff Lee Foster and two off duty deputies responded from their homes in preparation to deploy tire deflation devices.
Foster said the 911 center was in constant communication with On-Star and it was decided to attempt a controlled stop using the assistance of On Star on U.S. 76 near Prosperity. The vehicle was stopped and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
Martell Reese Kennedy, 32, of 5113 Farrow Road in Columbia, was taken into custody and charged with failure to stop for law enforcement, possession of a stolen vehicle, and driving under suspension. Foster said authorities in South Carolina and North Carolina will arrange extradition.