By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
ROCKWELL — Deputies led a man to jail Friday morning after authorities say he led them on an 11 mile high-speed chase through Rowan County.
According to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, deputies attempted to stop Turoqua Correll, 512 Hawkingstown Road, as he traveled south on Interstate 85 at about 4:30 a.m. Officers reported that they had seen the man make several aggressive moves through traffic at a “high-rate of speed.”
When Deputy N.L. Phillips activated his blue lights, the man accelerated his silver 1998 Lexus ES300, and took exit 68 toward China Grove. The report said Correll then took a right ramp onto Hwy 152 East toward Rockwell.
Deputies followed the man, radioing ahead to other units for assistance. As Correll approached Meadows Nursing Home on Hwy 152, the vehicle “struck a spike strip and punctured both front tires,” which had just been placed by responding officers, the report said.
The 32-year-old traveled about another 100 yards, the report said, before he took a right and stopped on School Street.
He was immediately handcuffed and searched. Deputies found a small bag of marijuana, rolling papers and an ecstasy pill. They also reported that the man had a strong odor of alcohol. He was taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center for a blood sample “for drug-testing purposes,” the report said.
Correll was charged with felony fleeing to elude, felony possession of ecstasy, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license revoked and driving while impaired.
He was given a $10,000 bond and was in jail Friday afternoon.