Spartanburg woman to serve 22 years in prison for violent car chase
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SPARTANBURG, N.C. (WLOS) — Spartanburg County officials reported Jodi Lea Stapleton, 36, pleaded guilty to charges involving a violent 2018 car chase.
On July 18, 2018, officials said deputies attempted to set up a traffic stop on Highway 29 in order to arrest both Stapleton and her passenger, Jurrell Thompson, 34, who were both wanted at the time for multiple charges. Stapleton failed to stop and led deputies on a pursuit on Old Converse Road, authorities said.
During the pursuit, Thompson began shooting multiple rounds from an AK-47 style rifle at the pursuing deputies, officials said.
After Stapleton turned onto Mount Pleasant Road, Thompson jumped out of the vehicle, then Stapleton abandoned the car and ran to a nearby residence, authorities said. Stapleton was found hiding under covers in a bedroom at the residence and Thompson was found nearby, both were taken into custody, officials said.
Multiple 7.62 rounds were recovered on the route of the pursuit, officials said, along with the rifle used and the empty magazine. Authorities also said property was damaged during the event, including multiples sheriff’s office vehicles and citizens’ businesses and homes.
Stapleton pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and an unrelated breach of trust, drug and unlawful neglect of a child charges, officials said.
Officials also reported Stapleton’s prior criminal dated back to 2007 with multiple convictions for drug and traffic offenses.
Thompson, of Spartanburg, is detained in the Spartanburg County Jail with no bond and pending charges still, including attempted murder and drug charges, officials said.
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