Davidson Police ID Suspect Wanted For Smashing Through Cemetery

DAVIDSON, NC — Davidson police say they have identified the driver responsible for damaging a historical town cemetery and fleeing the scene after he attempted to elude a traffic stop for speeding last month, and now have four warrants for his arrest.

The incident began March 7 shortly before midnight when Davidson Police Officer Ramiro Better clocked a driver of a white Chevrolet Impala traveling 50 mph on Griffith Street — twice the posted speed limit. Better attempted to pull the driver over to issue a citation, but the vehicle sped off on Beaty Street. The officer lost sight of the car and discontinued the pursuit.

Hours later, around 2:30 a.m. on March 8, Davidson College Campus Police discovered the vehicle, which had visible damage on the car and oil pan, near a line of trees near the mechanical shops on the college campus on Ridge Road.

Campus police later discovered that several headstones and markers had been knocked over in the Christian Aid Society cemetery located on Ridge Road, and quickly pieced together that the abandoned vehicle found on campus had driven off-road through the historical cemetery.

Based on evidence left at the scene and inside the car, which had a 30-day temporary tag, DPD detectives identified Adam Christopher Lucas, 21, of Charlotte as the suspect wanted in the case. After presenting the evidence to a Mecklenburg County Magistrate, Detective J. Stokes obtained warrants for Lucas’ arrest for fleeing arrest in a motor vehicle, failure to report an accident, no valid insurance and failure to register with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Lucas has not yet been arrested, according to a statement by the Town of Davidson.

“This investigation took some time to work through to ensure accuracy in not only identifying ownership of the vehicle but also putting the driver in the vehicle at the time of the incident,” Davidson Police Chief Penny Dunn said in a statement.

“The Christian Aid Society and the community as a whole are relieved about the progress made by the Davidson Police Department,” Erving McClain, president of the board of the Christian Aid Society, said in a statement. “Hopefully the action they have taken will help solve the problem completely and this situation at the cemetery will be resolved in a timely manner.”

The Town of Davidson asks that any resident who would like to provide help with repairs to the cemetery in the form of volunteer hours or monetary contribution, please call McClain at 704-896-7729.

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