Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Iredell County, North Carolina – In a shocking turn of events, the driver of an inmate transport van was apprehended in Iredell County after abruptly quitting his job and refusing to stop at the designated destination with the prisoners in tow. The incident unfolded on Tuesday when authorities received an urgent call from the owner of the inmate transport company, alerting them to be on the lookout for the van traveling on Interstate 40 in Statesville, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.
The owner reported that the driver, identified as 21-year-old Joshua James Pinquet from Orlando, Florida, had deviated from the intended route and adamantly refused to return the vehicle. To compound the situation, there were four inmates securely locked in the cargo area of the van. As if this weren’t enough, another employee was present in the van with Pinquet, who, in a text message to the owner, expressed his decision to quit the job and persist in bypassing the designated destination, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.
Upon receiving this distressing information, deputies swiftly located and intercepted the van near mile marker 154 on I-40. Both Pinquet and the other employee were promptly detained, while the inmates were securely contained within the vehicle. Detectives discovered that Pinquet was originally assigned to stop at a location in Hickory, but he willfully disregarded his duty and continued his journey along I-40.
As a consequence of his actions, Pinquet now faces multiple charges, including five counts of felony second-degree kidnapping and felony larceny by an employee. No bond has been issued for these charges, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Meanwhile, the inmates were transferred to the custody of additional personnel from the original transport company and resumed their journey to their destinations in Florida.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the trust placed in those responsible for the transportation and safekeeping of inmates. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the motives behind Pinquet’s actions and whether any other factors contributed to this alarming incident. In the wake of this event, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office urges the public to remain vigilant and download the WBTV News app for real-time updates straight to their phones.