ASHEBORO, N.C. — A Florida man kidnapped a woman at gunpoint and led police on a high-speed chase Saturday, firing at officers before crashing and fleeing on foot, authorities said.
Manuel Jesus Robles, 32, of Ocala, Florida, was captured after the pursuit ended in a crash at Interstate 85 and Webb Road in Rowan County. The victim was rescued unharmed.
The incident began at approximately 1:42 p.m. Saturday when Robles allegedly forced a 31-year-old woman into a vehicle at gunpoint while she sat in her car on Coleridge Road in Asheboro, according to the Asheboro Police Department.
Detectives quickly determined Robles’ location. Randolph County Sheriff’s deputies located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but Robles led them on a high-speed pursuit through Randolph County. Officers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, High Point Police Department, Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and Rowan County Sheriff’s Office also participated in the chase.
During the pursuit, Robles fired multiple shots at pursuing officers, striking law enforcement vehicles but injuring none of the officers, authorities said.
The pursuit ended when Robles crashed the vehicle. He fled on foot but was apprehended shortly after. The victim was evaluated by emergency medical services at the scene.
Robles was charged with felony first-degree kidnapping, felony attempted murder, felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle, four counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, two counts of felony discharge of a firearm from an enclosure, felony discharge of a weapon into a moving vehicle, and felony flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle.
Additional charges include misdemeanor assault by pointing a gun (two counts), misdemeanor communicating threats, misdemeanor resisting a public officer, misdemeanor injury to personal property (two counts), reckless driving to endanger, left of center line on a grade or curve, and speeding.
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