Husband and Wife Arrested Following Attempts to Elude Law Enforcement

VICTORIA – The arrests of a husband and wife following a high speed chase and subsequent search for one of the suspects took place on Sunday night in Victoria.

Victoria Police Senior Patrol Office Daniel Medlin was running radar along Washington Avenue in the town on Sunday (July 24) at approximately 7:00 p.m. when he observed a late model Buick four door car speeding at more than 20 mph above the speed limit.

Officer Medlin initiated his lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle. It then began to travel at a high rate of speed in an attempt to elude the officer. The vehicle headed toward the Nutbush area while increasing speeds through town and out of the town limits, including through dangerous curves, before making a right onto Trailer Park Road.

Officer Medlin followed the vehicle to a section of the road where the pavement turns into gravel. At that point the driver exited the vehicle and ran into a wooded area. On the way toward the area where the suspect fled, Officer Medlin noticed a female who had been down below seat level in the vehicle. He was able to detain and question her as officers from the Lunenburg Sheriff’s Office and Kenbridge Police Department arrived at the scene to assist in the search for the suspect who had run into the woods.

After searching for the suspect for approximately 45 minutes, a tip from an anonymous source helped locate the man who was then arrested and identified as 37-year-old Steven James Nelson of Victoria.

Nelson was charged with felony eluding a police officer, reckless driving, and driving on a restricted license from previous charges. He was also found to have a capias warrant from the city of Petersburg. Nelson had also just been released from Piedmont Regional Jail stemming from previous charges. He was transported to Piedmont Regional Jail following the incident.

The female in the car was identified as Kristin Nelson and she was charged with obstruction of justice.