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A rampage in North Carolina got out of hand pretty darn quickly. It started with stealing a police truck and involved assaulting a government officer and causing a school to enter lockdown. If you think drugs were involved, then you’re correct! 

North Carolina man steals police truck and sends school into lockdown 

Bladenboro Police officers arrested a suspect identified as 32-year-old Katrale Sampson during a traffic stop when they found heroin in his front pockets. He was pulled over to be arrested for outstanding warrants. 

The responding officer placed Sampson in the back of his police truck, an unmarked 2020 Chevrolet Silverado. Sampson admitted to having Percocet and heroin in the center console of his car, so the officer went to investigate. 

Then Sampson scrambled to the front seat, while handcuffed, and took off. He struck the officer in the leg, effectively turning the $30,000 truck into a deadly weapon. 

The unoccupied Chevy truck was later found near Marsh Road. Also, the officer involved doesn’t think the theft would have occurred if the truck had a kill switch or if he had requested backup. 

He was still at large until the next morning. According to the Charlotte Observer, Sampson stole another vehicle, but the owner followed him to a gas station and dragged him out of it! How is that for messing around and finding out? 

Sampons ran to the woods behind Blanden Community College, sending it into lockdown. Reports do not include whether he was still wearing handcuffs. 

He faces charges for:

  • Two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle 
  • Larceny by employee 
  • Two counts of resisting a public officer 
  • Assault with a deadly weapon 
  • Possession of heroin 
  • Mesdemanor larceny 
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia 
Related

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer and covers all things Trucks and SUVs. She covers Stellantis regularly, including Dodge, Ram, and Jeep vehicles. Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She’s spent the last several years testing new cars for MotorBiscuit and writing about their pros and cons. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her on test drives.

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