Tarboro police stand by decision to pursue in chase that led to fatal crash into apartment building

A candlelight vigil is being held tonight for a Tarboro woman.

Jeanette Drew was killed on Mother's Day when a man crashed his car into her home while leading police on a high-speed chase.

WRAL News is looking into whether this chase was justified.

Police said Jeanette Drew was killed when an 18-year-old crashed into her apartment here while officers were chasing him from a checkpoint. Tarboro Police Chief Rick Mann is standing by his officers’ decision to pursue.

It was a scene of destruction on Wednesday. Multiple homes at Tarboro's Northgate Apartments were damaged after SUV crashed into the building.

Drew was killed in the impact, her grandchildren left covered in bricks and debris. Police arrested the driver, Darquavious Lancaster and charged him with death by vehicle, driving with a revoked license and DWI. Tarboro police said the crash happened after Lancaster didn't stop for a license checkpoint.

Police took off after him, chasing him at speeds up to 100 mph. That pursuit ended when Lancaster lost control just over a mile away and crashed into the complex.

"Without going into great detail, because this investigation is still ongoing, the officers acted very reasonable and with good judgment here," Mann said. "The chase is justified."

We reached out to the SBI, which says it's not investigating the chase and crash. Mann told WRAL News that every chase is reviewed by the head of the patrol shift and the department has a standing policy for when to engage in a chase.

"The officers acted reasonable, they were justified, and they acted within the policy," Mann said.

Mann said he's limited in what he can say while the case is ongoing, but more details will be released as Lancaster goes through the justice process. He said his department is also focusing on supporting Drew's family through this loss.

"This family’s going through a lot right now," Mann said. "They lost a mother and a grandmother on Mother’s Day. So I’d like people to respect their privacy, and at the same time if the family needs something from the Tarboro Police Department, we’re there for them."

The Tarboro Police Department's chase policy said officers must consider several factors before embarking on a pursuit, including the severity of the suspected crime and how it relates to public safety.