Man Sentenced to Year in Jail for Stealing “Kia Challenge” Vehicle, Eluding Police Responding to Flock Alert, Crashing Into Another Driver in 2023

NORFOLK, Va. – Collin Michael Harrison, 21, was sentenced on Friday to serve 12 months in jail for stealing a vehicle in the same manner as depicted in problematic “Kia Challenge” videos, eluding police officers who tried to pull him over after they received a Flock alert on the stolen vehicle, and failing to stop right away after he crashed into another vehicle during the police pursuit.

On the evening of July 16, 2023, the owner of a red 2015 Kia Rio reported her vehicle stolen to Norfolk Police after she noticed it missing and broken glass on the ground where she last parked. Investigators entered the vehicle information to the Flock license plate recognition system, and the following evening, officers received a notification that the vehicle was being driven in the 2500 block of East Little Creek Road.

Responding officers saw Mr. Harrison driving the Kia and attempted to pull him over. Mr. Harrison disregarded the officers’ lights and sirens, sped down East Little Creek Road for nearly two miles, crossed into opposing lanes of traffic, and crashed into a pickup truck. The crash totaled the Kia and caused minor injuries to both drivers. Mr. Harrison then ran away from the scene of the crash until officers detained him near the intersection of East Little Creek Road and Chesapeake Boulevard. After he was transported to a hospital for treatment, Mr. Harrison admitted to investigators that he stole the vehicle the day before using the “Kia Challenge” method.

On Jan. 24, Mr. Harrison pleaded guilty to felony grand larceny of an automobile, felony hit and run, and felony eluding. Mr. Harrison’s plea agreement called for the judge to sentence him to up to 12 months in jail. Judge Robert B. Rigney accepted Mr. Harrison’s plea agreement and sentenced Mr. Harrison on Friday to serve 12 months in jail, suspending another five years in prison on the conditions that Mr. Harrison complete two years of supervised probation and three years of uniform good behavior as well as pay restitution to the victim of the crash.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Alberto Z. Herrero prosecuted Mr. Harrison’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Investigator Kavoris J. Fruster led the investigation.

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