A man from Lynchburg has been taken into custody following a chase involving a U-Haul truck on Interstate 81 in Washington County, Virginia, in the early hours of Monday.

As stated in a news release by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), an attempt was made by a deputy to pull over a U-Haul truck close to Exit 13 in Abingdon shortly before 1 a.m.

The statement from WCSO detailed that, “Upon activating the deputy’s emergency lights, the driver sped up and chose not to stop, leading to a pursuit on Interstate 81 in the southbound direction. Throughout the chase, the driver made several attempts to veer towards officers, including an occasion where it seemed the driver aimed to strike a deputy who was setting up spike strips.”

The chase traversed Gate City Highway, Reedy Creek Road, and Miller Hill Road. The driver, later identified by authorities as 40-year-old Michael C. Chewning from Lynchburg, eventually left the vehicle and ran on foot near Beech Grove Methodist Church, according to the WCSO.

K-9 Rybar was then used to apprehend Chewning.

In addition to active warrants from Nelson County and Appomattox County, Chewning was charged with the following:

• Attempted capital murder (3 counts)
• Felony elude
• Possession of a schedule I or II narcotics

As of Monday, Chewning is being held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail.