Two Charlotte Men Lead Burke County Officers On High Speed Chase With Infant In Back Seat

24-year-old Jer’Michael Stefon Davidson and 20-year-old Lee Edward Owens, both of Charlotte, were arrested last Thursday by Burke County Sheriff’s Deputies. The arrest came after a high-speed chase with an infant in the back seat of the suspect vehicle

Davidson is charged with felony counts of flee to elude arrest and possession of firearm by a felon and Owens is charged with felony possession of schedule II controlled substance and misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Burke County Communications received an anonymous call regarding a disturbance at an apartment complex in Hildebran. The caller described two men who were in a tan, older model car brandishing multiple firearms in the parking lot and causing a disturbance.

Narcotics Investigators arrived and spotted the two men outside of the tan Buick. They attempted to initiate a stop but the suspects allegedly fled the scene at a high rate of speed. The suspects allegedly attempted to strike a marked Burke County patrol vehicle in order to escape.

A chase followed with speeds reaching 115 mph on Interstate 40 eastbound. The pursuit entered iCatawba County and continued to Exit 125 in Hickory, where the suspects crashed their vehicle on the ramp. Burke County Deputies took the suspects into custody. Mutual aid was provided by the Hickory Police Department and North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Both suspects were armed and the driver, Davidson, had his infant in the rear of the vehicle in a car seat. Further investigation revealed that the passenger, Owens, had crack cocaine in his possession.

Davidson’s bond was set at $35,000 secured, Owens received a $5,000 secured bond. Both suspects remained in jail in Morganton as of earlier today and are scheduled to appear in District Court November 4.

Photo: Burke County Sheriff’s Office
Rob Eastwood-WHKY contributed to this story