Spotsylvania County man charged after Wythe police chase

According to a Wythe County Sheriff’s Office press release, a Wythe County deputy was on patrol on Kimberlin Road in Rural Retreat when he noticed a blue Chevrolet Camaro stopped in the road. The deputy pulled up and spoke to a male who said he was just making sure he didn’t have a flat tire. The male quickly got into the car. The deputy noticed a female lying on the road (passenger side) from where the male was walking. The deputy turned on his blue lights and a pursuit began at around 10:30 a.m. The deputy sent other units to check on the female. Deputies pursued the vehicle into Smyth County on West Lee Highway. The vehicle began driving recklessly passing cars in no-passing zones so deputies tried to trail the vehicle at a safe distance. The vehicle got onto Interstate 81 northbound and Wythe County Public Schools were notified. In conjunction with school resource officers and WCPS, some schools were placed on a modified lockdown.

The vehicle made a sudden exit onto Interstate 77 and then Exit 41 and came into the town of Wytheville. The Wythe County Sheriff’s Office notified the Virginia State Police and Wytheville Police Department for assistance. The vehicle was located by officers from the Wytheville Police Department and pursued until the driver parked his car behind Derm One on Peppers Ferry Road. The driver ran across the street taking off his sweatshirt trying to elude officers, police said. He ran into Walgreens Pharmacy where he was taken into custody by multiple officers without incident.

He was identified as 38-year-old Joshua Tait Melvin, 5164 Dickerson Road, Partlow. He was wanted on warrants from pursuits in Spotsylvania and Frederick counties, police said. He was also wanted for capiases in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties. He had a warrant issued for his arrest for assault and battery in Spotsylvania as well. He was wanted for 12 outstanding warrants.

Melvin was charged with 12 warrants by the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office and the Wytheville Police Department.

He is being held without bond on 24 at the New River Valley Regional Jail.

The female from the incident said they were arguing about the way he was driving, so she jumped out of the car and that’s when a deputy drove up to them, police said.