Fugitive wanted for striking north carolina deputy in construction zone captured in ocean county

Toms River, NJ – A man wanted in North Carolina after allegedly crashing into a sheriff deputy’s patrol vehicle and leading authorities on a dangerous chase through Asheville has now been captured in Ocean County and lodged in the Ocean County Jail, officials confirmed.

Vincent Nelson was wanted by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office following a July 10 pursuit that began after investigators said he slammed into a deputy’s vehicle parked near a construction closure on Interstate 26 in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Authorities said the deputy had been assisting road crews and helping manage traffic around the construction zone when the crash happened around 10 p.m. on the Interstate 26 West on-ramp at Long Shoals Road.

Chase Cut Through Asheville Streets

According to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the collision sparked a pursuit through multiple roads in the Asheville area, including Long Shoals Road, Hendersonville Road, and Sweeten Creek Road before ending near the DoubleTree Hotel close to Biltmore Village.

District 1 Captain Dustan Auldredge said the deputy’s actions helped prevent the suspect vehicle from entering an active construction area where workers were present.

“Our deputy was assisting construction crews on I-26 by managing road closures to ensure the safety of both the construction workers and the motoring public,” Auldredge said in a statement. “Thanks to our deputy’s quick actions, a vehicle was prevented from accessing the construction area.”

Authorities said one deputy suffered minor injuries while taking Nelson into custody and was treated and released from a hospital.

Nelson was also taken to Mission Hospital before initially being booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility.

Key Points

• Man wanted after North Carolina patrol vehicle crash now held in Ocean County Jail
• Authorities said suspect led deputies on a chase through Asheville streets
• Deputy suffered minor injuries during arrest after Interstate 26 incident

Facing Long List of Charges

North Carolina authorities charged Nelson with multiple offenses tied to the pursuit and collision, including assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, felony flee to elude arrest, reckless driving, resisting a public officer, hit-and-run property damage, and misuse of the 911 system.

Investigators also accused him of speeding, driving left of center, running a red light, and driving on a closed highway connected to the construction zone.

Officials have not yet released details about how or where Nelson was located in Ocean County before being transferred into custody at the Ocean County Jail.

Interstate Incident Started at Construction Closure

The original incident unfolded while deputies were assisting with overnight road work along Interstate 26, a heavily traveled highway in western North Carolina.

Authorities said the patrol vehicle had been positioned to block traffic from entering a restricted construction area when it was struck.

The case gained attention in North Carolina because of the risk posed to both construction workers and deputies managing the closure.

Nelson remains in custody pending further court proceedings and possible extradition-related action connected to the North Carolina charges.

Ocean County Jail

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.