Executive Summary
- James City County police arrested Angel Gabriel Smith, 21, following a pursuit on Sunday morning.
- The operation was triggered by a Flock camera alert identifying a vehicle stolen during an armed carjacking in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
- Officers successfully deployed a tire deflation device to stop the vehicle on Pocahontas Trail.
- Smith faces local charges of felony evading and unauthorized use of a vehicle, with additional charges pending in South Carolina.
Police in James City County, Virginia, apprehended a suspect connected to a multi-state armed carjacking investigation on Sunday morning following a vehicle pursuit initiated by an automated license plate reader alert.
According to the James City County Police Department, officers received a notification from a Flock Safety camera at approximately 10:57 a.m. The system identified a vehicle that had been reported stolen during an armed carjacking in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at 4 a.m. earlier that same morning.
Law enforcement officials stated that officers located the vehicle at 11:10 a.m. in the 8500 block of Route 199 eastbound. When police attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver refused to yield, prompting a pursuit. During the chase, officers deployed a tire deflation device, which successfully brought the vehicle to a halt in the 2000 block of Pocahontas Trail.
Authorities reported that the driver attempted to flee the scene on foot but was quickly taken into custody. The suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Angel Gabriel Smith of Myrtle Beach. Police have charged Smith with felony evading and eluding, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and driving with a suspended license within James City County. Officials noted he faces additional charges in South Carolina related to the initial incident.
Investigative Outlook
This arrest highlights the increasing reliance on inter-state data sharing and automated surveillance technology to track suspects fleeing across jurisdictional lines. The rapid identification of the vehicle, occurring just hours after the reported crime in South Carolina, demonstrates how digital infrastructure assists local agencies in managing threats originating outside their immediate districts. As the legal process moves forward, coordination between Virginia and South Carolina prosecutors will likely focus on extradition proceedings regarding the violent felonies alleged in Myrtle Beach. It is important to note that all individuals, including Mr. Smith, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
