Blake Victor Butler, 36, has entered a guilty plea to felony eluding charges stemming from a 2023 incident in which he fled from police in a stolen vehicle. The chase took place through the Downtown Tunnel and into Portsmouth.
The incident occurred on October 23, 2023, when Norfolk Police officers attempted to stop a vehicle reported as stolen near the intersection of 27th and Church streets. The driver, identified as Mr. Butler, did not comply and accelerated to speeds reaching 90 mph. He evaded police while running multiple red lights at busy intersections and driving into opposing traffic lanes. Officers pursued him along several routes before ending the chase near the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway due to safety concerns.
After evading capture, Mr. Butler abandoned the car on County Street in Portsmouth with its door open. Officers located him at a nearby grocery store after receiving a description matching his appearance. Surveillance footage confirmed his identity as the driver who exited the vehicle.
On June 16, 2025, Mr. Butler pleaded guilty without any plea agreement in place. Judge Joseph C. Lindsey accepted his plea and scheduled sentencing for December 12 while Mr. Butler undergoes treatment for substance-use disorder.
“Once again, we see a situation where, no matter how bad the situation may be, running from the police makes it worse,” stated Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Mr. Butler endangered himself, the police, and the public.” Fatehi acknowledged Mr. Butler’s efforts toward rehabilitation but emphasized that his actions posed significant danger.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Bailey C. Ottinger prosecuted the case with Norfolk Police Officers David B. Eberhardt and Jacoby Dean leading the investigation.
