HENRY COUNTY, VA – Two people were arrested after a 37-mile-long chase resulted in a deputy firing their gun on Thursday morning in Henry County.
It all started when a deputy was heading north on the Route 220/58 Bypass and a white Chevrolet pickup truck swerved into the deputy's lane almost striking the patrol vehicle.
The deputy was able to conduct a traffic stop on the Chevrolet near the Irisburg Road exit and saw drug paraphernalia inside, according to Sheriff Wayne Davis.
Sheriff Davis said as the deputy was trying to remove the driver, who appeared to be under the influence of narcotics, from the vehicle, he drove away.
When the vehicle pursuit was on Airway Drive, the Chevrolet went off-road, and a deputy attempted to stop it by pinning it against a tree, but it only temporarily stopped the vehicle.
When deputies tried to arrest the driver, he drove off again, hit a carport and at this point, a deputy shot at the suspect vehicle, but no one was hurt, according to Davis.
Eventually, the Virginia State Police used spike strips to deflate the tires, the vehicle came to a stop on the Route 220/58 Bypass near the Greensboro Road exit and both occupants fled on foot and were arrested a short distance away.
Steven Robert Banks, 30, of Dry Fork, was charged with driving under the influence and felony elude.
Ashley Diane Payne, 35, of Max Meadows, was charged with drunk in public and obstruction of justice.
Both are currently held at the Henry County Adult Detention Center.
Banks under no bond and Payne on a $1,500 secured bond.
Per procedure, Sheriff Davis has requested state police investigate the officer-involved shooting that occurred during this incident.
