Virginia man charged after alleged pursuit involving stolen vehicle in Pender County

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A 19-year-old Virginia man is facing multiple charges in Pender County after authorities say he fled from law enforcement in a stolen vehicle. Court records also show he was wanted in Virginia on an abduction charge.

Lorenzo Nickholas Claiborne, of North Prince George, Virginia, was arrested Sept. 24 by the Pender County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a magistrate’s order, Claiborne allegedly drove a Dodge Ram reported stolen from South Carolina while fleeing from law enforcement on Sloop Point Road. Court documents allege he drove recklessly and exceeded the speed limit by more than 15 mph during the pursuit.

Claiborne is charged in that case with felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle, felony fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, resisting a public officer, driving without an operator’s license, disorderly conduct at a school and misdemeanor possession of stolen property.

Court records allege Claiborne’s actions caused North Topsail Elementary School to be placed on a soft lockdown because he was fleeing in close proximity to the school.

The misdemeanor stolen property charge involves a South Carolina license plate that authorities allege Claiborne possessed while knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe it was stolen.

A separate Pender County case shows Claiborne was also arrested as a fugitive from Virginia. A fugitive warrant lists an abduction charge from Dinwiddie, Virginia, and states Claiborne had been charged with the crime and allegedly fled from justice.

Court records show Claiborne waived extradition Sept. 25.

Claiborne also faces a separate set of traffic charges stemming from Sept. 24. Those include hit-and-run involving property damage, displaying a fictitious or altered title, registration card or tag, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane control and failure to wear a seat belt. Those charges were filed by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

A $20,000 secured bond was set in the Pender County case involving the stolen vehicle and alleged pursuit. Court records list his North Carolina cases as pending.