Sheriff details deputies' crash

While the investigation continues into a high-speed crash involving two Onslow County Sheriff’s Department cruisers, Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown conceded Monday “safety was not adhered to in this chase.”

Deputies Ashley Bishop and Don Cumbo suffered injuries Friday night after their vehicles collided while in pursuit of a speeding motorcyclist. The collision occurred near Broad Creek School Road in Carteret County.

“They are lucky to be alive,” Brown said at a press conference. “This was not a fender-bender; it was a devastation.”

Brown said the wreck his deputies were in was the worst crash between law-enforcement officers he had seen in 20 years.

Bishop was responding to a fight at a residence on N.C. 53 in the Southwest area of Onslow County when a motorcyclist sped away from the scene. Bishop did not know what part the motorcyclist had played in the fight, and the motorcyclist could have been a potential suspect in a more serious crime, Brown said.

Bishop pursued the motorcycle, and Cumbo joined in the chase. Other law enforcement agents became involved in the high-speed hunt as the motorcyclist ripped down N.C. 24 through Swansboro and into Carteret County at 130 mph, according to warrants.

Deputies had pursued the motorcycle almost 30 miles when it made a sharp turn onto Broad Creek School Road, according to a N.C. Highway Patrol report.

Cumbo was picking up speed at the same time Bishop was slowing down to turn and follow the motorcycle. Cumbo realized too late that Bishop was stopping and tried to avoid colliding with his cruiser, but he hit the right front corner of the vehicle instead, Brown said.

Bishop’s car caught fire from the heat coming off the manifold, Brown said.

Bishop was treated at Onslow Memorial Hospital and released. He will be back to work Wednesday. A K-9 officer, Bishop had two service dogs in his vehicle at the time of the crash. Both dogs were uninjured, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Cumbo was airlifted and admitted to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

Brown said that when he visited Cumbo in the hospital, the deputy told him that he was not paying attention at the time of the crash, and that Cumbo needed surgery on his hip and will be out for a while.

Capt. Bobby Pollock, Cumbo and Bishop’s patrol supervisor, is investigating their actions in relation to the department’s vehicle pursuit policy.

“Often law enforcement officers feel an urgency to bring suspects in and lose sight of their own safety,” Brown said. “This is something that can happen to anyone if they don’t put safety first. These are seasoned law-enforcement officers. Cumbo has 20 years experience, and Bishop has eight years.”

Both cruisers were totaled at a loss of about $30,000 each, authorities said.

“Loss of equipment can be replaced; loss of people cannot,” Brown said.

The Sheriff’s Department policy clearly states high-speed pursuits are discouraged, but when undertaken, the safety of all those involved must be put first.

After the deputies collided, the motorcyclist continued down a dead-end road, ran out of pavement and was apprehended by Onslow County and Carteret County deputies.

Patrick Mason Muegge, 23, a Camp Lejeune Marine living on Brenda Drive in Jacksonville, was charged by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Department with felony eluding arrest, reckless driving to endanger persons or property, speeding, failing to heed a siren, failure to stop at a red light and no motorcycle endorsement.

Muegge’s bond was set at $3,500. He had his first appearance in court Monday morning.

“I spoke to him (Monday) morning,” Brown said. “He apologized with tears in his eyes.”