By Shelley Smith
ssmith@salisburpost.com
A Rockingham man, determined to get away from authorities Sunday night, reportedly drove 80 mph through the streets of Salisbury and Granite Quarry, and eventually into a field, hitting a ditch and then running on foot.
He was stopped after being shot with a stun gun, authorities reported today.
Phillip Renee Sellers, 51, of 110 McNeil Road, was taken to the hospital for a blood analysis, then charged with felony possession of cocaine, possession of Xanax, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of an open container, felony fleeing to elude arrest, driving while impaired, driving while license revoked and careless and reckless driving.
He was placed in jail under a $10,000 secured bond.
Rowan County Sheriff’s Deputy Craig Earnhardt was sitting in a parking lot at Grandeur Townhomes working on a report when he heard a horn blowing and saw a pickup truck fly by with a N.C. State Trooper following.
Earnhardt decided to follow since he realized Sellers wasn’t going to stop, the report said.
The officers followed Sellers, who was traveling at speeds topping 80 mph, down Julian Road, Klumac Road, Jake Alexander Boulevard and Hwy. 52 through Granite Quarry.
Officers put stop sticks down at the intersection of Hwy. 52 and Brown Acres Road, however, Sellers kept going, the report said.
Sellers passed East Rowan High School and then turned into a field, ultimately driving into a ditch.
Sellers fled on foot, and deputies used a stun gun to stop him. The first didn’t work, so another officer fired a second.
The report said Sellers was “extremely impaired,” and didn’t listen to officers.
A half gram of cocaine, a mirror with white residue, beer bottles and one Xanax pill were found in Seller’s truck.
The report said Sellers maintained high speeds during the chase.