Sumter teen arrested in North Carolina after pursuit in stolen vehicle

Law enforcement in Union County, North Carolina, have arrested a 16-year-old from Sumter after he gave chase in a stolen vehicle.

According to Union County Sheriff’s Office in Monroe, North Carolina, UCSO deputies and officers with Stallings Police Department conducted a traffic stop Monday, July 14, on a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Sumter. The driver, identified as Jamari Wells, 16, was on probation at the time on three counts of attempted murder and was wearing an ankle monitor.

Wells fled from law enforcement at a high speed, leading to a pursuit. While fleeing, he reportedly rammed the stolen vehicle into two UCSO patrol cars, assaulting the deputies. No injuries to law enforcement were reported, according to the sheriff’s office.

After the wreck, Wells fled on foot into a nearby apartment complex and was taken into custody shortly after.

Wells has been charged as an adult with several motor vehicle offenses, including felony flee to elude and two counts of hit and run, as well as via juvenile petitions with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on law enforcement and one count of resist, delay and obstruct, according to the sheriff’s office. He remains in custody at the juvenile detention facility in North Carolina.

According to UCSO, Wells’ photograph could not be made public because of his age.

Wells was previously considered a runaway  in Sumter in early January 2025. He was suspected to be involved in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on New Year’s Day in Sumter that wounded a 15-year-old. Wells fled from local law enforcement later that day and was arrested on Jan. 14, according to The Item archives.