UPDATE Friday, Jan. 10, 2025
The Newton County Sheriff's Office announced the charges against Shawn Dooley. The charges are as follows:
- Fleeing or eluding a law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle - reckless or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property.
- Failure to obey/disregard of traffic control.
- Driving on the wrong side.
- Failure to yield right of way.
- Drivers license - none or expired.
- No insurance.
- Improper passing.
- Reckless driving.
Dooley was given a $5,000 bond for the fleeing charge. There was no bond given for the seven other charges.
A Philadelphia man was arrested Monday, Jan. 6, after a car chase that ended with a foot pursuit inside of the Newton Walmart Supercenter.
The Newton Police Department (NPD) received a call reporting that Shawn Michael Dooley was following his girlfriend and her father in a green Ford F-150 on Highway 80 from Hickory to Newton. The callers said Dooley was driving erratically and tailgating their vehicle, according to an officer with NPD.
Officers intercepted Dooley at the four-way intersection of Highway 80 and Highway 15 in Newton. Rather than stopping, Dooley fled north on Highway 15, briefly merging into oncoming traffic in the southbound lane. He then veered into the Walmart parking lot and drove toward the store’s entrance.
Dooley abandoned the still-moving truck near the store’s front doors. The unoccupied vehicle rolled into the back of a Toyota Camry in the parking lot.
The suspect fled inside the store, with officers, employees, shoppers, and an off-duty Newton County Sheriff’s Office deputy joining the pursuit. A civilian eventually tackled Dooley to the ground, allowing officers to apprehend him.
Dooley faces multiple charges, including felony fleeing, reckless driving, improper passing, failure to yield the right of way, and disregard of a traffic device. He was also charged with driving without a license or insurance. The incident is still under investigation and charges could change.
