Elvis Shifflett, 39, led police on a chase along the above route on October 20, 2006. The finale? Shifflett ended up getting shot. He recently entered a plea deal and could serve five years for firearms charges and eluding police.
The man who led county police on a car chase and three-hour manhunt entered a plea deal with prosecutors saying there’s enough evidence to convict him of the crimes, without admitting guilt. Elvis Shifflett entered Alford pleas on charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle, eluding police and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
 SHIFFLETT’S WILD RIDE |
Shifflett began his run from the law October 13 last year, after he allegedly tried to shoot his ex-girlfriend (the mother of his children), in an altercation near Court Square in Charlottesville. Police believed Shifflett to be armed and dangerous.
A week later, on October 20, Shifflett’s red Dodge Shadow was spotted near Albemarle County Police headquarters on Oak Hill Drive off Fifth Street Extended. Cops followed Shifflett as he drove east on I-64 at a “high rate of speed,” according to police Lieutenant John Teixeira. Shifflett headed south on Route 20 before dumping his vehicle near Lyman Hill Drive and fleeing on foot. In the car, he left a female passenger and a loaded semi-automatic rifle.
Police searched for three hours before finding Shifflett a little more than a half mile away on Brookhill Avenue.
From there, Shifflett hopped in a truck that had the keys in it and frantically tried to drive away. City police called to the scene shot one of the truck’s tires and through the windshield, hitting Shifflett with one bullet, which fragmented, causing multiple injuries, police said.
An internal police investigation concluded the officers were correct to fire on Shifflett, who was unarmed.
Shifflett recovered in the hospital and at a rehabilitation center before being sent to the Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Jail, where he is still held.
Prosecutors reduced a grand larceny charge (for stealing the truck) to unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Shifflett could still serve about five years—the plea agreement outlines a recommended sentence of five years, or the mid-point of the sentencing guidelines for the three charges, whichever is longer.
Shifflett still faces felony charges in Charlottesville for the Court Square incident; he will appear in court July 2.
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