FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
***UPDATE***
Following a medical evaluation and discharge, the driver, identified as Leslie Ann Moore Pugh, was arrested and transported to the Randolph County Detention Center, where the magistrate found probable cause for felony flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle, two counts felonious restraint, felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, felony assault serious bodily injury, felony possession methamphetamine, misdemeanor resisting public officer, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor driving while license revoked, misdemeanor reckless driving-wanton disregard, misdemeanor injury to personal property, misdemeanor aggressive driving, misdemeanor cruelty to animals, speeding, wrong way on a dual lane highway, left of the center, fail to maintain lane control, fail to at a steady red light, fail to stop at a stop sign/flashing red light, give/lend/borrow a license plate, drive/allow a motor vehicle no registration, and fail to wear a seat belt. No bond was issued because the defendant was out on pretrial release.
She was also served her outstanding warrants for speeding, identity theft, resisting a public officer, fail to heed light or siren, reckless driving–wanton disregard, driving while license revoked, drive left of center, unsafe passing, and window tinting violation. She received no bond.
She was served with her orders for arrest for failure to appear and issued a $325,000 secured bond.
Name of Defendant:
Leslie Ann Moore Pugh
Age: 36
****Outstanding processes served: Six Failure to appear on felony and two failure to appear on misdemeanor
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October 30, 2025
Randolph County Sheriff’s Office
Press Release: Vehicle Pursuit and Arrest of Wanted Individual
On October 30, 2025, a Randolph County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a vehicle at a gas station on U.S. Highway 64. The deputy recognized the driver as an individual with numerous outstanding misdemeanor and felony warrants.
When the deputy approached and attempted to take the female driver into custody, she refused to exit the vehicle and fled the scene, dragging the deputy a short distance before he was able to disengage safely and call for assistance.
Responding deputies initiated a vehicle pursuit on U.S. Highway 64. During the pursuit, deputies deployed Stop Sticks, which the driver was able to avoid. A Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) was later utilized, causing the suspect’s vehicle to spin in the roadway; however, the driver regained control and continued fleeing. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle lost control in a curve and overturned.
Deputies immediately rendered medical aid to the occupants. The female driver and a male passenger were transported to area hospitals with serious injuries. A third occupant was uninjured and released at the scene.
The driver, who is not being identified at this time, had multiple outstanding warrants at the time of the pursuit, including:
- Failure to Heed Lights and Siren
- Reckless Driving
- Driving While License Revoked
- Speeding
- Window Tint Violation
- Driving Left of Center
- Unsafe Passing
- Felony Identity Theft
- Resisting a Public Officer
- Failure to Appear on a Probation Violation (Randolph County)
- (2) Counts of Failure to Appear on Felony Larceny (Forsyth County)
Additional charges related to this incident will be filed following the investigation.
NC State Highway Patrol responded to investigate the accident.
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