Man arrested after deputy-involved chase ends in crash on Market Street

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy-involved chase ended in a multi-car crash on Market Street Friday morning.

A sheriff’s office spokesman said it happened around 10:30 a.m.

The sheriff’s office says detectives were attempting to serve a felony warrant on Cody Rayburn at a hotel located off Market Street. NHSO says Rayburn refuse to comply, jumped into his SUV, and sped out of the parking lot, ramming two detective’s vehicles.

Car crash on Market Street and New Centre Drive on Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo: Mary Duke Barnwell)

Detectives with the Vice Narcotics Unit followed Rayburn onto Market Street to try and stop him. Rayburn reportedly then crossed over a median and hit an SUV head-on. NHSO says the abrupt stop from the head-on crash caused the detective vehicle to rear-end Rayburn’s SUV.

Rayburn is in custody under multiple felony warrants, including meth, assault with a deadly weapon as well as felony flee to elude.

The victims in the SUV that Rayburn hit head-on were taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in stable condition, NHSO says.

The crash caused Market Street to closed in both directions near New Centre Drive. As of 1:05 p.m., the road has reopened.