19-year-old arrested after pursuit with Summerville officers

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – Summerville police arrested a man who allegedly led authorities on a chase that included him intentionally ramming into a police cruiser early Tuesday morning. 

19-year-old Shawn Thompson was apprehended and charged with no driver’s license, failure to stop for blue lights, providing false information to police, assault and battery in the first degree, and simple possession of marijuana.

Officers observed a suspicious Black Chevrolet Camaro operated without a license plate around 4 a.m. in the area of Holiday Drive. 

The driver, identified as Thompson, saw police, turned the vehicle around, and fled the area. An officer initiated a traffic stop, but Thompson refused to stop. He then turned off the Camaro lights while evading law enforcement. 

The pursuit continued into Goose Creek, where Thompson intentionally rammed a police cruiser near the CATO store off of St. James Avenue. 

Thompson continued to flee before stopping in the Walmart parking lot, where he was apprehended. 

When arrested, Thompson was wearing racing gloves and a motorcycle helmet. Authorities also seized a camera fixed to the exterior of the vehicle that documented the pursuit. Police said the recording was likely made to gain social media followers. 

Law enforcement seized the camera as evidence. The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and the SC Highway Patrol assisted. 

Chief Douglas Wright stated, “This suspect endangered the lives of civilians and law enforcement officers as a publicity stunt. His actions were reckless, which is another example of why there needs to be enhancements to the penalties for people who choose to flee from law enforcement in our state.”