By Ethan Woodhouse
June 25, 2012. Ashe County resident Rex William Cummings has posted a bail in excess of $100,000 following a high-speed chase and arrest Thurs, June 21.
Cummings was seen driving his brother’s pick-up truck around noon Thursday and proceeded to flee police. His sibling’s vehicle was seized in accordance with December 2011’s “Run and You’re Done” Law.
Ashe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joe Francis spotted the vehicle on 221N near JE Gentry Road and led the pursuit of Cummings. Francis executed a PIT maneuver, nudging and eventually flipping the escape vehicle, to bring the chase to an end.
“The maneuver was employed after I authorized it,” Ashe County Sheriff James Williams said. “It was obvious that Cummings wasn’t going to stop. His disregard for everyone, with traffic being so heavy, made it necessary to authorize the maneuver.”
Francis struck the right rear corner of Cumming’s pick-up, causing the vehicle to spin out and flip on to it’s top at the intersection of highways 16 and 88. No major injuries were reported.
Cummings, 56, is facing a multitude of charges, including simple worthless check, felony reckless driving to endanger, assault with a deadly weapon of a government official, conspiracy to traffic cocaine, felony fleeing to elude arrest, failure to heed light and siren, reckless driving to endanger, speeding and failure to report change of address as a sex offender.
Cummings also instigated a “sizable chase” several weeks ago. After fleeing Alleghany Highway Patrol, he entered Ashe County, where deputies joined the pursuit. He was able to jump and run from the vehicle, avoiding arrest, Sheriff Williams said.
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