News 14 Carolina's Jennifer Moxley has more on the report from Kannapolis police.
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -- Police have wrapped up their investigation into the actions of a Kannapolis officer involved in a deadly wreck last month.
Officer David Horne was attempting to stop Rigo Martinez when his Jeep collided head-on with a car driven by 20-year-old Leanna Newman. She and her unborn child were killed in the wreck.
Martinez faces a list of charges including second-degree murder and driving while impaired. He pleaded not guilty to some of the charges Thursday.
The wreck took the lives of 20-year-old Leanna Newman and her unborn child.
According to the report, Horne first saw the Jeep on Rosemont Avenue almost hit a pedestrian. He had information that Martinez had been in two other hit-and-runs. Thirty seconds after the officer turned on his blue lights, the Jeep appeared to be pulling over on Airport Road, but instead of stopping, it turned around through a yard and drove off and onto Main Street.
Horne radioed the direction of travel to notify Landis police, and within 28 seconds, the Jeep had crashed into Leanna Newman’s car.
Chief Paul Brown says his department's investigation shows Horne's actions were consistent with North Carolina law and within his authority as a law enforcement officer.