CHARLOTTE, NC — A Charlotte man, Travis Eugene Cuthbertson, 35, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly stealing merchandise from a local Walgreens and leading police on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash.
Cuthbertson, who is accused of shattering a glass display case at Walgreens and stealing perfumes and colognes valued at $2,356, fled the scene in a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The theft quickly escalated when Cuthbertson rammed into a Belmont Police officer’s vehicle while trying to escape. This prompted a high-speed pursuit that continued into Charlotte.
The chase ended at the intersection of Old Pineville Road and Archdale Drive, where Cuthbertson collided with two other vehicles before attempting to flee on foot. Officers were able to apprehend him quickly, and he was transported to Atrium Health CMC Main after complaining of right shoulder pain. However, he sustained no visible injuries, and no officers or civilians were harmed.
Local residents expressed their surprise and concern after the incident. “Very strange that it happened at a Walgreens. I would think more so, like at a Walmart or something like that,” said Sabrina Brown, a nearby resident. Jay Miller, another local resident, added, “It’s upsetting… endangering lives of just regular people driving.”
A records check revealed that Cuthbertson is also wanted in the National Crime Information Center database for charges including felony conspiracy, felony fleeing to elude, and probation violation out of Mecklenburg County.
Cuthbertson is currently in custody awaiting further legal proceedings.
