A probation absconder died during a foot chase Thursday night in Wadesboro, according to state officials.
“A probation and parole officer was attempting to locate and arrest a subject for a probation violation related to an assault charge in Anson County,” Special Agent Audria Bridges with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said in a statement released Friday morning. “During this arrest encounter with the probation officer, the subject passed away. Several Wadesboro police officers were on scene and witnessed the encounter after the arrest.”
The officer involved was later identified as 23-year-old William Kyle Torrence, according to a statement from Keith Acree, public information officer with the N.C. Department of Public Safety. Torrence was working with officers from the Wadesboro Police Department chasing an absconder by foot, acree said.
Bridges said the cause of death is pending an autopsy, and no weapon was located on the scene. Acree added that there was no evidence of gun shots as of early Friday afternoon.
The identity of the suspect was not released as of early Friday afternoon as the suspect’s family was still being notified, according to Acree.
Bridges said that the SBI may be able to release more information later on Friday.
Torrence was placed on administrative duty as an internal investigation is underway, standard procedure in these cases.
Wadesboro police asked the SBI to step in at about 11 p.m. Thursday, according to Bridges. A call to Wadesboro Chief Thedis Spencer was not immediately returned Friday afternoon.
Anyone with information or who was in the area of Sikes Drive in Wadesboro around 11 p.m. Thursday can contact the SBI at 704-454-5264.
Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.