Minton Arrested after Foot Chase in West Jefferson

Photos by Joel Frady

By Joel Frady

After authorities located the red Ford Probe associated with fugitive Tony Edward Minton, a 25-year-old from North Wilkesboro, they waited for him to return to the vehicle. The Probe was parked near the Re/Max insurance office on North Jefferson Avenue in West Jefferson, and authorities spotted Minton at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 30. Lt. Detective Chris Welch of the West Jefferson Police Department, said that the Probe was spotted because the was a BOLO ("Be On the Look Out for") issued for Minton due to five felony breaking and entering warrants issued in Wilkes County. When Minton returned to his vehicle, officers "went to approach him and he ran."

Officers, led by Captain Jason Finney of the WJPD, chased him through the back alleys of downtown West Jefferson before finally catching up to Minton in front of Hale Tire Company. Finney attempted to subdue the suspect with pepper spray, but the suspect ran across Jefferson Avenue and into the parking lot of Hale Tire. "Lay down!" Finney shouted as he crossed the street moments before Minton was finally stopped and hand-cuffed. Officers from the Ashe County Sheriff's Department, Jefferson Police Department, N.C. Higway Patrol, Ashe County Animal Patrol and the N.C. Division of Adult Probation and Parole assisted in the chase.

Finney said that, in addition to the warrants in Wilkes, Minton was running because he was in possession of methamphetamine and that he ate approximately one gram of the drug as he ran. Finney noted that "it's part of why" criminals frequently run, because "they don't want to get caught with whatever they've got" in addition to the charges they might already face. Minton was transported to the Ashe County Jail in Jefferson, where the methamphetamine began to cause issues.

"At he jail, he was complaining of rapid pulse and chest pains," said Finney. "We called EMS to check him out and make sure that he was okay," and "they said he needed to go to the hospital."

Minton was taken to Ashe County Memorial Hospital and was in stable condition as of Friday morning. Once he is released from the hospital, he will return to the Ashe County Jail. Welch noted that it wasn't the first time that Minton was at the hospital that day, however, as hospital police were the first to spot Minton in the red Probe. According to Welch, the tag on the car was "ficticious."

Minton was charged with resist, obstruct and delay and felony possession of methamphetamine by the WJPD after Thursday's incident. Other charges against Minton might still be forthcoming.

Chief Brian Grogan of the WJPD wanted to thank all of the agencies that assisted in the chase.

Don't forget to grab a copy of the Thursday, May 7, issue of Ashe Mountain Times for an update on this developing story.