A North Carolina State Highway Patrol chase ended on Harbor Island Friday night, Nov. 14, when patrol officers apprehended 19-year-old Fisher James Hardee on North Channel Drive. Hardee is a resident of 25 Island Drive, Wrightsville Beach.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing a dozen marked and unmarked highway patrol vehicles on North Channel Drive around 11:30 p.m. Although no Wrightsville Beach Police Department officers were involved in the chase, WBPD Sgt. Steve Evanko said WBPD did set up a perimeter to prevent Hardee from escaping on foot.
“C Squad was notified by dispatch that North Carolina Highway Patrol was in a vehicle chase heading towards the beach,” WBPD Sgt. J Newberry stated in an email. “The chase went down Causeway Drive into the Harbor Island area. The suspect vehicle struck Trooper Ballard’s vehicle on Live Oak Drive then went across to North Channel Ave. … The Highway Patrol arrested the subject on North Channel and Second Ave without incident. … The only damage that is known to us at the moment is the Highway Patrol vehicle and the suspect vehicle.”
Hardee charged with felony speeding to elude arrest, driving while impaired and speeding is scheduled for first appearances in New Hanover County District Court on Dec. 11. He also faces charges on Feb. 13, 2015, of failure to stop at a stop sign or flashing red light, careless and reckless driving, driving after consuming under 21 years old and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.
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