Culpeper police pursuit ends in Spotsylvania

A 25-year-old Culpeper man was arrested in Spotsylvania Sunday following a 20-mile, multi-jurisdictional police chase through Culpeper that led to felony kidnapping and eluding charges, according to police.

Virginia State Police Trooper B. Hobbs said the driver’s girlfriend - who was in the passenger’s seat during the chase, called 911. She informed the dispatcher of the vehicle’s whereabouts after the driver eluded authorities, and said she was being taken on the wild ride against her will.

The driver faces separate charges from two police agencies.

Culpeper Police charged Dominick Wise of the 1000 block of Nottingham Street with felony eluding, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving and failing to stop at a stop sign.

The Virginia State Police also charged the Culpeper man with kidnapping and driving on a suspended license.

Town spokesman Wally Bunker said Town Officer Dan Sullivan saw a black 2010 Dodge four-door sedan run a stop sign around 10:50 a.m. near the intersection of East Chandler and South East streets.

When Wise didn’t stop, Sullivan proceeded to follow him southbound on Main Street and Madison Road into the county.

Bunker said that’s when Wise turned onto Orange Road and headed back toward the town.

According to a witness, the Dodge swerved to avoid spike strips after an officer placed them in the road on Lovers Lane.

Town Police abandoned the pursuit at that time, Bunker said.

Virginia State Troopers located the Dodge in Spotsylvania around noon and arrested the driver on Ely’s Ford Road, about 20 miles southeast of the town of Culpeper.

It’s unclear what stretch of road Wise used to get from Culpeper to Spotsylvania. Route 3 is the most direct road connecting the two counties.

Wise was released from Culpeper County jail Monday on a $13,000 bond.