Man Sentenced to 2 Years After Pleading Guilty to Felony Eluding for Recklessly Driving Away from Police Responding to Flock Alert for Stolen Car

NORFOLK, Va. — Terrence Jamar Bailey, 45, was sentenced in August to serve two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to felony eluding following an incident last year when he sped away from police in a car that the Flock license plate reader system had identified as stolen.

On Nov. 19, 2024, Norfolk Police investigators received an alert from the Flock camera system for a stolen car being driven at the intersection of East Olney Road and Wide Street. After verifying the vehicle’s information and confirming with dispatch that it had been reported stolen, the investigators went to the intersection and found it parked nearby with two people, including Mr. Bailey, inside. Seeing the police approaching, Mr. Bailey started driving the stolen car west on Olney Road, and the investigators activated their lights and siren to pull Mr. Bailey over. Instead of pulling over, Mr. Bailey continued to drive in an increasingly reckless manner, including nearly hitting another car, turning without yielding into a middle lane on Tidewater Drive — causing multiple vehicles to slam on their brakes to avoid hitting Mr. Bailey — and failing to stop at multiple stop signs as he approached the Young’s Terrace neighborhood.

In Young’s Terrace, Mr. Bailey drove over a curb and across a baseball field while two people were using it. Another nearby police officer joined the pursuit and followed Mr. Bailey across the baseball field. After driving across the field, Mr. Bailey and the other occupant got out of the car and started running. The officer chased Mr. Bailey on foot and caught him about a block away.

On June 18, Mr. Bailey entered an agreement to plead guilty to felony eluding and face a sentence of up to two years in prison. In exchange for his guilty plea, the Commonwealth agreed to the dismissal of a related misdemeanor. Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted Mr. Bailey’s plea agreement, found him guilty, and set his sentencing hearing on Aug. 29.

After hearing the arguments at Mr. Bailey’s sentencing hearing, Judge Rigney sentenced him to serve two years in prison, suspended none of that sentence, and ordered that Mr. Bailey complete six months of post-release supervision.

“Once again, quality police work and the responsible use of technology led to the arrest and successful prosecution of a person who endangered people in our community,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “The most important thing when someone sees blue lights and hears sirens? Stop. Running only makes things worse.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Emily A. Woodley prosecuted Mr. Bailey’s case, and Norfolk Police Detectives Ryan D. Newcome and Michael Martinson and Officer David B. Eberhardt led the investigation.

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July 2, 2025

Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Eluding After Recklessly Driving Away from Norfolk Police Responding to Flock Alert for Stolen Car

NORFOLK, Va. — Terrence Jamar Bailey, 45, pleaded guilty to felony eluding following an incident last year where he sped away from police in a car that the Flock license plate reader system had identified as stolen.

On Nov. 19, 2024, Norfolk Police investigators received an alert from the Flock camera system for a stolen car being driven at the intersection of East Olney Road and Wide Street. After verifying the vehicle’s information and confirming with dispatch that it had been reported stolen, the investigators went to the intersection and found it parked nearby with two people, including Mr. Bailey, inside. Seeing the police approaching, Mr. Bailey started driving the stolen car west on Olney Road, and the investigators activated their lights and siren to pull Mr. Bailey over. Instead of pulling over, Mr. Bailey continued to drive in an increasingly reckless manner, including nearly hitting another car, turning without yielding into a middle lane on Tidewater Drive — causing multiple vehicles to slam on their brakes to avoid hitting Mr. Bailey — and failing to stop at multiple stop signs as he approached the Young’s Terrace neighborhood.

In Young’s Terrace, Mr. Bailey drove over a curb and across a baseball field while two people were using it. Another nearby police officer joined the pursuit and followed Mr. Bailey across the baseball field. After driving across the field, Mr. Bailey and the other occupant got out of the car and started running. The officer chased Mr. Bailey on foot and caught him about a block away.

On June 18, 2025, Mr. Bailey entered an agreement to plead guilty to felony eluding and face a sentence of up to two years in prison at the judge’s discretion. In exchange for his guilty plea, the Commonwealth agreed to the dismissal of a related misdemeanor. Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted Mr. Bailey’s plea agreement, found him guilty, and set his sentencing hearing on Aug. 29.

“No matter how bad the situation is, eluding the police makes it worse,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “It was good luck that nobody got hurt due to Mr. Bailey’s dangerous behavior. Once again, the Flock camera system helped the police recover a stolen car and make an arrest. We will continue to make responsible use of technology to hold people accountable proportionate to their culpability.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Emily A. Woodley is prosecuting Mr. Bailey’s case, and Norfolk Police Detectives Ryan D. Newcome and Michael Martinson and Officer David B. Eberhardt led the investigation.

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