Valdese Man Wanted In Connection To Deadly Hickory Crash Turns Himself In

A man charged with fleeing from police in a deadly chase that resulted in the deaths of a Hickory woman and her 12-year-old son surrendered to Police shortly before noon today.

24-year old Chanceler Timothy Johnson of Valdese walked into the Catawba County Law Enforcement Center with his attorney Lisa Dubbs of Hickory.

Last Friday, Hickory Police announced Johnson was wanted on two felony charges of eluding arrest in a motor vehicle causing death. He’s also charged with a misdemeanor out-of-county probation violation. Johnson was placed in jail under a secured bond of $75,000.

The charges are related to a September 8th chase. Hickory Police say Johnson fled after an officer attempted to pull him over for reckless driving and not displaying a license plate. During the pursuit, 38-year-old Cynthia Lail and her 12-year-old son Michael were killed in a crash. Johnson did not crash into Lail. Hickory police officer Atia Shamseldin, 24, collided with the Lail vehicle as he was following Johnson.

Shamseldin, per procedure is on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into the crash. The N.C. State Highway Patrol is conducting an investigation as well.

Photo: Hickory Police Department

The Hickory Daily Record contributed to this article

https://hickoryrecord.com/news/local/crime-courts/hickory-crash-valdese-catawba-county/article_b669fc7c-570b-11ee-b32e-7b95a9bdf773.html