2/3/25 Troutman, NC – Domestic Violence Call – Deputies Placed The Female In The Back Of The Patrol Vehicle For Safety – The Domestic Violence Suspect Stole The Patrol Car With The Female In The Back – Police Pursuit – Charged With Kidnapping And Many Other Charges

Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic dispute Sunday and when they tried to question the suspect, he ran away and “forcibly entered a patrol vehicle” where the victim was seated, fleeing the scene.

Deputies initially got to the call on Skyuka Road in Troutman and encountered Bradley Gage Johnson, who had prior domestic violence-related charges involving the female victim.

Deputies temporarily detained the female victim in the back of a patrol vehicle to ensure her safety, the sheriff said in a news release.

After that, deputies went to question Johnson and that’s when he ran and got into the patrol car with Jones in it and fled, sparking a pursuit.

The pursuit ended a short distance away on Rolling Lane in Statesville where Johnson got out of the vehicle and tried to run away again, but he was quickly apprehended, the sheriff said.

Deputies said that the victim was safely recovered and not injured.

Deputies charged Johnson with felony second-degree kidnapping, felony larceny of a motor vehicle, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony possession of a stolen firearm, felony larceny of a firearm, felony flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, felony possession of a weapon of mass destruction, felony larceny of law enforcement equipment, misdemeanor violation of pretrial release order, misdemeanor assault on a female, misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, misdemeanor reckless driving to endanger, and various traffic violations.

Channel 9′s Almiya White spoke to Johnson’s aunt, who said he had recently gotten out of a mental hospital.

“He’s regretting what he did, Andrea Brooks said. “He needs more help than anything. We’re all concerned, because that’s just not where he needs to be. You know, he made a ton of rash decisions all at one time.”

White also spoke to Major Troy Miller with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office about the chase.

“Luckily, we had several units that got on in the area, Miller said.

Johnson was taken before Magistrate H. Callejas, who gave him no bond.