Man rammed woman with car before hours-long standoff, Garner police say
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- A man was charged with assaulting a woman with his vehicle in Garner.
- Afterward, police say, he rammed his car into a home and barricaded himself inside.
- Garner police deployed SWAT teams and crisis responders during the barricade.
Garner police took a man into custody Sunday after they say he rammed his car into a woman, drove it into a house and engaged police in an hours-long standoff at a home on Alta Crest Lane.
Officers responded around 3 p.m. to a domestic violence report and saw Nathan Lorne Tharp, 32, intentionally drive his car into a woman, knocking her to the ground, the Garner Police Department said in a news release Monday afternoon.
As officers moved to help the woman, Tharp tried to hit her a second time, according to the release. Officers fired their guns at the car. Tharp was not struck by the gunfire and was not injured, the Garner Police Department said.
Tharp then drove into a nearby home, causing structural damage, forced his way in and barricaded himself inside, police said.
Officers on the scene were able to help those inside the home get safely out.
Police brought in SWAT officers and crisis negotiators, but it was several hours before Tharp surrendered and was arrested.
The woman was treated at a local hospital Sunday night and released, police said. They did not disclose her relationship to Tharp or describe her injuries.
Tharp was also treated at a local hospital, but police did not say why. He has been charged with several crimes including:
- Assault on a law enforcement officer
- Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Assault on a female
- Misdemeanor domestic violence
- Felony beaking and entering
- Felony damage to property
Neighboring departments helped police, including the Wake County Sheriff’s Office; the police departments of Raleigh, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville; Garner Fire-Rescue; Garner Public Works and Wake County EMS.
We are trying to learn more about the incident. Please check back for updates.
This story was originally published January 26, 2026 at 3:05 PM.