A 27-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested and jailed early July 3 after leading Tyrrell deputies on a high-speed vehicle chase on U.S. Highway 64 and onto the Alligator River bridge.

Tyrrell Sheriff Darryl Liverman described the incident in a media release:

On Saturday, July 2, at 11:41 p.m. the Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Office was conducting a driver’s license checkpoint on U.S. 64 just east of Columbia.

A pickup truck pulled up to the checkpoint and the driver was asked to produce his driver’s license. The driver gave the deputy a driver’s license. Upon examination of the driver’s license the deputy believed that the driver’s license was fictitious.

The deputy attempted to question the driver further when the driver of the truck fled the checkpoint traveling east on U.S. 64 toward Dare County. Tyrrell County deputies pursued the vehicle east on U.S. 64.

The Alligator River Bridge was contacted and was requested to put the flashing stop arms down on the bridge at the draw. The driver of the truck continued east on U.S. 64 traveling onto the Alligator River Bridge. The driver of the truck drove through the stop arms at the draw, knocking the arms off onto the bridge.

The driver of the truck then attempted to elude the deputies by putting his vehicle in reverse and attempting to back up on the bridge. While backing up the driver of the truck struck another truck on the bridge and then rammed a Tyrrell County Sheriff’s vehicle.

At that point, Tyrrell County deputies took Joshua M. Tagliaboski, 27, of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, into custody. Further investigation revealed that the pickup truck had been reported stolen out of Pennsylvania.

Tagliaboski was charged with use of a false license/permit in the commission of a felony, felony possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, felony fleeing to elude arrest, three counts of injury to personal property, no operator’s license, careless and reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and resist delay and obstruct a public officer.

Tagliaboski was placed in the Dare County Detention Center on a $250,000 secured bond. There were no reported injuries. The Highway Patrol investigated the vehicle accident.

Dare County Sheriff’s Office assisted with traffic control. Both lanes of travel were closed on the bridge for almost two hours. The NCDOT also responded and repaired the stop arms and inspected the bridge.