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Augusta County: Lengthy pursuit ends in crash, arrest of Craigsville man

Chris Graham
Jonathen Lee Powell
Jonathen Lee Powell. Photo: Augusta County Sheriff’s Office

A pursuit that started in Craigsville on Tuesday night, and made it all the way to Staunton and Interstate 81, ended with a violent crash and the arrest of a suspect wanted for stealing a vehicle in Fredericksburg earlier in the day, and for the theft of multiple firearms and ammo from a residence in Augusta County.

A lot to unwrap here, obviously.

Jonathen Lee Powell, 36, of Craigsville, is in custody at Middle River Regional Jail, where he is being held without bond, which probably didn’t need to be said.

The incident that led to his apprehension began with a call to 911 at 9:37 p.m. on Tuesday reporting a larceny at a residence in Craigsville.

The responding deputy passed the suspect in the area of Parkersburg Turnpike and Stanley Street in Craigsville.

Powell didn’t stop, and a pursuit ensued.

Craigsville to Staunton is a 22-mile drive, so this went on for a while.

The pursuit got everybody to Interstate 81, where Virginia State Police used tire-deflation devices to try to stop the suspect vehicle.

The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office says Powell intentionally made contact with several State Police vehicles, causing his vehicle to lose control.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

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