Both Greene County law enforcement agencies were involved in vehicle pursuits last week.
According to a report obtained from the Greensboro Police Department, officers were patrolling the area of Memorial Drive on Sept. 7 when they observed a male driving a four-wheeler on North East Street.
Officers initiated a traffic stop, and the driver was identified as William Gresham Jr., 43, of Greensboro. It turned out that Gresham’s license was suspended in Greene County for failure to appear.
Gresham was asked to get off the four-wheeler to be detained, but he started the four-wheeler and fled the scene.
Gresham was arrested on Sept. 9 and charged with aggravated assault, battery, failure to maintain lane, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, failure to provide headgear and eye protection devices for riders, no insurance, obstruction/hindering law enforcement officers, operating a vehicle while license suspended or operating privilege, probation violation, violation of vehicle registration period, two counts of failure to stop at stop sign, and violation of tag light requirements.
Three days later, Deputy Skilman of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office was assisting Greensboro police officers with a traffic stop on East Broad Street when he heard a car leave from an unknown driveway nearby with its engine revved and its tires spinning.
Then, Skilman saw what appeared to be a Dodge Charger fishtailing in the roadway, indicating the vehicle was “laying drag and displaying a willful disregard for the safety of the motoring public,” according to the report.
The driver, later identified as 29-year-old Christopher Hall, headed toward Union Point, and Skilman returned to his patrol car and made an attempt to catch up to Hall. Once Skilman reached the area of Yearwood’s Garage, he saw the vehicle again as it was weaving in and out of traffic.
Due to the distance, Skilman couldn’t gauge an approximate speed, but he could tell that he was not gaining any ground on the Charger.
According to the report, Skilman then lost sight of the Charger again as it traveled the hills approaching the airport, but picked it up again near Airport Road.
Skilman pursued as Hall turned left onto Cunningham, right onto Old Union Point Road, toward the Greene County Recreation Department. The vehicle then accelerated rapidly.
Skilman lost sight of the Charger for a few moments while negotiating curves on this road, but was able to catch up as it continued down Old Union Point Road.
After the vehicle hit the dirt portion of Old Union Point Road, it came to a stop near Landfill Road.
Skilman exited his patrol car, and Hall was advised to get on the ground. Hall was then placed in handcuffs and arrested and charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and reckless driving.
Hall’s vehicle was turned over to a family member who was close by.