Ronnie Hicks: NC man leads cops on miles-long tractor chase while blasting 'Dukes of Hazzard' theme song
BOONE, NC: Police in North Carolina claimed that a man with a knife attempted to run over people with a stolen tractor before leading them on a miles-long high-speed chase. Reports say that the man was blasting the 'Dukes of Hazzard' theme song before being arrested. Police got a complaint about a "tractor being driven erratically" and deliberately pursuing individuals in a Boone parking lot on Tuesday, Jan 17. The driver has been identified as Ronnie Hicks.
A video shows several police vehicles chasing a John Deere tractor as it weaves through traffic on a town road, blows through a stop sign, and approaches the Route 421 intersection. At least eight police cars with flashing lights congregate at the intersection to try and stop the tractor, but it keeps going through the red light.
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Watauga Online stated that the maximum speed during the entire hour-long chase was 20 miles per hour. As per Chief Andy Le Beau, Hicks hit a church, a dumpster, and a number of cars. The tractor, which typically costs between $10,000 and $30,000, can be seen speeding through red lights while being pursued in a video that numerous onlookers posted to social media.
Police Chief Andy Le Beau claimed in a Facebook post that he had instructed police to shoot the tractor's wheels, but Hicks persisted in the chase despite losing a tire for a few more miles.
"We did attempt to use stop sticks, but they were not terribly effective on the tractor," he stated. "Our officers were concerned for the welfare of our citizens as Hicks was intentionally driving the tractor toward on-coming traffic. Hicks also intentionally rammed a Boone Police vehicle [and] once he turned onto Old 421, we were next concerned about Parkway Elementary and were determined not to let him get that far." "When the tractor was in an isolated area, one of our officers shot the tires of the tractor (with my authorization) since the spike strips were ineffective," he added.
Someone who captured the chase on camera shared it on Facebook with the caption, "Dude blasting the Dukes of Hazzard song running from the law ON A JOHN DEERE TRACTOR in Boone this morning?!!" Some users were astonished by the video, and one said of the brand and model of the farming machine, "Well, nothing runs like a Deere!" 'The Dukes of Hazzard' theme tune can be heard in the background of the video as the car slowly drives past.