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Deputies Pull Off Wild Wawa Maneuver To Capture Spotsy Car Thief Pumping Gas: Stafford Sheriff

A Spotsylvania man already wanted on felony charges was found with drugs after stealing a vehicle and hitting authorities' cars in his attempt to escape, police in Stafford County said.

Deputies captured Wayne Motley in a wild maneuver at Wawa.

Deputies captured Wayne Motley in a wild maneuver at Wawa.

Photo Credit: Stafford County Sheriff's Office

Wayne Motley, 46, of Spotsylvania, was spotted by Stafford County Sheriff's deputies pumping gas into a stolen Ford F-150 at the Wawa on South Gateway Drive around 9:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, County Sheriff David Decatur said. 

Deputy D.S. Jett, Sergeant M.E. Gordon and First Sergeant D.W. Fetterolf made their way to the scene to block any escape path. Deputy Myers pulled his marked patrol car in front of the truck and Deputy Jett tucked in behind the poached pick-up.

"The deputies conducted a high-risk encounter, ordering the suspect to raise his hands and walk back to Deputy Jett," Decatur said. 

While Motley initially complied, he then bolted into the truck and pulled forward into the side of Deputy Myers’ SUV. After the initial crash, the suspect backed into Deputy Jett’s vehicle and proceeded to pinball between the two patrol cars, trying to make room for an escape.

Sgt. Gordon arrived on scene and placed the front of her car against the side of the filched Ford, pinning the truck "like WWE Superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson," the sheriff's office said. 

Bystanders may not have been able to smell what “The Rock” was cooking, but they definitely got a whiff of burning rubber as the suspect floored the truck, spinning the tires like a NASCAR burnout and creating a smoke screen around the area.

First Sergeant Fetterolf used his ASP baton to break out both driver’s side windows, leading Motley to surrender. The driver and sole occupant, Motley was found to be wanted in Stafford for unauthorized use and petit larceny and in Spotsylvania for felony failure to appear. A search of the vehicle turned up drugs and a stack of needles.

Motley was additionally charged with obstruction, vandalism to the Wawa gas pumps, two counts of felony vandalism to Sheriff’s vehicles, misdemeanor vandalism to a Sheriff’s vehicle, felony eluding, driving suspended, possession of a controlled substance, attempted malicious wounding to a police K-9 (since Gunner was in the vehicle), DUI, possession of controlled paraphernalia, and refusal. He was held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. None of the deputies or K-9 Gunner were injured during the incident.

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