Police have caught the man they allege ran over his pregnant ex-girlfriend in his truck then led police on a manhunt in late February. Jan Michael Reinhardt, 29, of 209 Kirkland Road, Gastonia faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, threatening phone call, failure to comply and failure to appear.
His ex-girlfriend, Sunshine Brown, is the mother of his 5-year-old son and was 8-weeks pregnant with another man’s child at the time of the attack. The baby is doing fine, she said. She’s glad to hear Reinhardt was behind bars on Wednesday. “It’s like a big weight has been lifted off my chest,” Brown said. “I’m so, so happy.”
He was booked into Gaston County Jail Wednesday afternoon on a $32,585 secured bond. Police had been looking for him since the incident almost a month ago.
Fight turns violent: Reinhardt had met up with Brown on Feb. 21 to help her move. They got into an argument in Reinhardt’s Chevrolet Blazer at the Quik Trip gas station on Long Avenue. The fight turned violent, according to police. According to arrest records, Reinhardt punched Brown in the face then pushed her out of the truck.
“I caught myself on his door,” Brown said. “But he hit the gas and knocked me loose and I hit the ground.”
That’s when Reinhardt stopped for a second before hitting the gas and running her over. Brown said she was alone in the back of the parking lot, injured. She screamed for help, but no one heard, she said. Eventually she got her cell phone out to call 911. She was taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Reinhardt leads police on manhunt: Police began looking for Reinhardt that morning. County and city police searched the area surrounding Reinhardt’s mother’s home on Kirkland Road where his truck was found. Local schools Cramerton Middle and Cramerton Christian were put on lockdown as was a local assisted living, Carillon Assisted Living Center.
Police called the search off a few hours later after no luck finding him. Wednesday, officers received an anonymous tip that helped them locate Reinhardt. He was staying with his sister at 138 Jeran Lane in southwest Gaston County. According to Gaston County Police, Reinhardt first refused to leave the trailer, but surrendered after a brief negotiation.
“We’re really glad we got him,” said Gastonia Sgt. Jimmy Arndt.
‘Getting better day by day’: Brown still suffers from the incident. Her unborn baby is doing well, however. She has some pain in her back and it’s difficult to walk, she said. “But I’m getting better day by day,” she said. Wednesday was a good day, she said. “I’m at a loss for words right now,” she said. “Today’s a good day.”
You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.