Deputies in Pamlico County, N.C., have arrested a man following a multi-agency manhunt that took place on Tuesday. Pamlico County Sheriff Chris Davis confirmed that the suspect taken into custody was not John Nigh, the escapee from Craven County Jail who remains at large.
The arrested individual, identified as 37-year-old Steven Warner of Jacksonville, was apprehended in connection with a stolen vehicle case. Authorities reported that the vehicle Warner was driving had been reported stolen from Onslow County early Tuesday morning. According to the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, the pickup truck was stolen sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning from a residence on Blue Top Road, located off U.S. 258 outside of Jacksonville. The truck’s owner discovered it missing upon waking up on Tuesday.
The incident began when Warner, while being pursued by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, abandoned the stolen truck in the Kennels Beach area of Pamlico County. He then fled on foot into a dense, wooded region. Law enforcement officers from multiple counties joined the search effort, deploying tracking teams to locate him. However, after searching extensively, authorities concluded that all tracking efforts had been exhausted and called off the search around 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Warner has been initially charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest. Additional charges are expected as the investigation continues. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning in Bayboro, where prosecutors may file more charges related to the incident.
