In the early hours of Friday May 3, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office received a call about shots fired into a vehicle. Deputies responded to 1921 Wall Street Apartment 3, and contacted the victim, who suffered minor injuries. Additional units responded to patrol the immediate area in the attempt to locate the vehicle of interest.
A deputy located a vehicle matching the description and attempted to stop the vehicle which had pulled into a driveway on Eastbrook Circle. The deputy approached the vehicle to make contact with the driver and saw the suspect reaching in between the driver’s seat and console. The suspect reentered the vehicle and fled the scene at a high rate of speed. During the vehicle pursuit, the driver held a firearm out the window, discharging multiple rounds toward deputies. The pursuit continued for several miles.
When the driver reached Rutherford College Road, spike strips were deployed successfully by Drexel Police. The chase continued through the county and came to an end on Devinney Street where the subject then fled on foot to a nearby residence. Deputies conducted a search of the subject’s vehicle, recovering documents with the subject’s personal information.
Investigators were issued a search warrant for 537 Amherst Road where the offender, Thomas Wayne Carlson III, barricaded himself. Burke County Sheriff’s Office personnel set up a containment perimeter around the residence. Burke County Sheriff’s Office SWAT responded to the residence and attempted to have Carlson surrender. After two hours of negotiating with Carlson, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and Morganton Department of Public Safety SWAT team made contact with Carlson and placed him custody.
Carlson was taken to the Burke County Jail, where he was served with F- Assault on Law Enforcement Officer with a Firearm, F- Flee to Elude Arrest, F- Attempt Discharge Weapon into Occupied Vehicle, F- Possession of Firearm by Felon, Reckless Driving, Resisting Public Officer, Speeding, Fail to Heed Light or Siren, Drive Left of Center and Unsafe Passing. Carlson is being held at the Burke County Jail under NO BOND.
Agencies Involved:
Burke County Sheriff’s Office
Morganton Department of Public Safety
Valdese Police Department
Drexel Police Department
NC State Highway Patrol
Department of Adult Correction K-9 Unit
Burke County Emergency Management
Burke County EMS