Man Arrested After Chase In Iredell And Catawba Counties

An Eastern North Carolina man is in custody following a vehicle chase that covered 25 miles on Monday.

23-year old Christian Jovani Osorio Cruz of Newport is charged with attempted murder, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon and larceny of a motor vehicle in Carteret County.

The chase began in Iredell County along Interstate 40 and ended in Catawba County. A statewide alert had been issued for Cruz. The suspect was spotted by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office while operating a stolen truck on Interstate 40. He failed to stop for law enforcement and headed into Catawba County.

Catawba County Deputies joined the pursuit at Exit 130 on Interstate 40 . The chase would end at the intersection of G E Plant Road and Tate Boulevard Extension.

Cruz was wanted by the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office in connection to the stabbing of a 39-year-old man. The stabbing occurred in Cartaret County late Saturday night. The victim is expected to survive.

Osorio-Cruz was transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was held under a $250,000 secured bond for the charges of felony flee to elude arrest with motor vehicle, felony possession of a stolen vehicle, felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, misdemeanor fail to stop for siren, misdemeanor driving while license revoked, misdemeanor reckless driving to endanger, misdemeanor speeding, and multiple driving infractions.

Osorio-Cruz received an additional $650,000 secured bond on the charges from Carteret County.

Photo: Iredell County Sheriff’s Office