A North Carolina man who wields a knife and blares the Dukes of Hazzard theme song while driving a stolen tractor has been taken into custody after leading police on a wild car chase.
The Boone City Police Department said it received a call around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning about a John Deere tractor that was “driving erratically in a parking lot and attempting to hit pedestrians,” citing Ronnie Hicks as the driver.
Footage of the incident shows Hicks plowing through stop signs and driving past oncoming traffic while being pursued by several police officers to the Route 421 intersection.
At least eight police cars flashing blue lights are seen meeting Hicks at the intersection in an attempt to stop the farm vehicle, which is said to have gone less than 20 miles during the hour-long pursuit.
A North Carolina man who wields a knife and blows up the Dukes of Hazzard theme song while trying to mow down pedestrians with a stolen tractor has been taken into custody after leading police several miles in a wild car chase
The Boone City Police Department said it received a call around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning about a John Deere tractor that was “driving erratically in a parking lot and attempting to hit pedestrians,” citing Ronnie Hicks as the driver
The tractor, which has an average price of between $10,000 and $30,000, may speed through red lights during the pursuit, which was posted on social media by several bystanders.
Department chief Andy Le Beau said in a post on Facebook he ordered officers to fire at the tractor’s wheels, but a determined Hicks continued the pursuit for a few more miles, despite losing a tire.
“We tried using stop sticks, but they weren’t particularly effective on the tractor,” he said.
“Our officers were concerned for the welfare of our citizens as Hicks deliberately drove the tractor in the direction of oncoming traffic.
“Hicks also intentionally rammed a Boone police car [and] As soon as he turned onto Old 421, our next concern was Parkway Elementary and we were determined not to let him get that far.
“While the tractor was in a remote area, one of our officers (with my permission) shot the tractor’s tires as the spike strips were ineffective.”
Department chief Andy Le Beau said in a post on Facebook he ordered officers to fire at the tractor’s wheels, but a determined Hicks continued the pursuit for a few more miles, despite losing a tire
Another video showing Hicks being chased in the tractor is filmed on a wooded road, the post’s caption reads, “Something’s wrong here.”
After driving a few miles without a front tire, Hicks turned onto private property where he ran out of road. Police berated Hicks, who has now been taken into custody – his charges have yet to be announced
One person who posted footage of the chase on Facebook captioned the video: “Dude blasts song by Dukes of Hazzard this morning running before the law on a John Deere tractor in Boone?!! “
The post left some users shocked, while one commented on the make and model of the farm vehicle: “Well, nothing runs like a Deere!”
In the video, the Dukes of Hazzard (DOH) theme song can be heard softly as the vehicle slowly drives by.
DOH is an American action comedy television series that aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985.
The show follows the story of two cousins, Bo and Luke Duke, who live in rural Georgia and are on probation for moonlighting.
The show’s premise consists of various antics in which the Dukes try to evade “corrupt county commissioner” Boss Hogg and Correctional Officer Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane.
Hicks has yet to explain why he performed the theme song from the popular TV show, but the opening sequence is tantamount to a frenzied police pursuit, with the cousin’s car shooting through the air to avoid the police.
Hicks has yet to explain why he performed the theme song from the popular TV show, but the opening sequence is tantamount to a frenzied police pursuit, with the cousin’s car shooting through the air to avoid the police
Another post showing Hiccup being chased in the tractor is filmed on a wooded road and reads: ‘Something’s wrong here, it seems someone stole a farmer’s tractor!!! What on earth?’ The video had 31,000 views.
After driving a few miles without a front tire, Hicks pulled onto private property where he ran out of road, police said.
“Hicks then jumped off the tractor and brandished a knife,” they added.
“A Boone officer deployed a taser and the suspect was taken into custody with no injury to the suspect or officers. Fortunately, there were no injuries in this incident.’
Hicks has been taken into custody by the Boone City Police Department, but his charges have yet to be announced.