SUMMERVILLE, S.C. — A 19-year-old is facing multiple charges after leading police on a dangerous early morning chase that ended in a Walmart parking lot in Goose Creek—and yes, he was wearing a motorcycle helmet and filming the whole thing, according to the Summerville Police Department.
Just after 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, Summerville police said they spotted a black Chevy Camaro without a license plate cruising near Holiday Drive. When officers tried to pull the driver over, later identified as Shawn Thompson, he hit the gas instead. The vehicle “blacked out” its lights and took off, eventually leading officers on a wild ride into Goose Creek.
The pursuit escalated near the CATO store on St. James Avenue, where police said Thompson intentionally rammed a police cruiser before continuing his flight. Officers finally stopped him in a nearby Walmart parking lot, where he was taken into custody without further incident.
According to police, Thompson was decked out in racing gloves and a motorcycle helmet, with a mounted camera on the outside of his car—likely to film the chase for social media purposes.
Police seized Thompson’s camera as evidence.
Thompson now faces a long list of charges, including assault and battery (1st degree), failure to stop for blue lights, providing false info to police, and simple possession of marijuana. He was booked into the Berkeley County Detention Center.
“This suspect endangered the lives of civilians and law enforcement officers as a publicity stunt,” said Summerville Police Chief Douglas Wright. His actions were reckless, which is another example of why there needs to be enhancements to the penalties for people who choose to flee from law enforcement in our state.”
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The Summerville Police Department thanked the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and South Carolina Highway Patrol for their assistance in the chase.
In court, a judge set Thompson’s bond at $30,000 for the assault and battery charge, $20,000 for failure to stop for blue lights, $615 for simple possession of marijuana and $465 for giving false information.
