Man charged after leading police on pursuit from Rowan County to Charlotte

SALISBURY — A man was arrested on Monday morning after deputies said that he led them on a police chase from southern Rowan County to Charlotte.

The incident began at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, when a deputy in the 1800 block of Old Beatty Ford Road noticed a Jeep Compass going approximately 66 mph in a 45 mph speed limit zone, said Captain Mark McDaniel, public information officer for the Rowan County Sheriff’s office. The deputy reportedly attempted to perform a traffic stop on the Jeep, at which point the driver turned towards the Interstate 85 on-ramp and stopped.

When the deputy went to report the traffic stop by radioing to communications, the driver started onto the interstate, tossing an object out of the window, said McDaniel. Another deputy responding to the area to assist reportedly searched the grass where the object was thrown and found a 9mm Glock handgun.

The deputies continued to pursue the Jeep south along the interstate as the vehicle drove between approximately 90 and 120 mph and continuously weaved dangerously through traffic, almost causing multiple collisions, said McDaniel. Near the Cabarrus County line, deputies reportedly called for the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina State Highway Patrol to assist, with multiple SHP troopers responding.

The pursuit continued into Charlotte, where the Jeep turned onto the northbound side of Interstate 77, said McDaniel. Just after midnight, the vehicle exited the interstate onto Sunset Road in northern Charlotte and stopped in a Cookout parking lot.

The driver, identified as 31-year-old Donald Rayfield Hicklin, was taken into custody. Deputies reportedly found an empty handgun holster and a fixed-blade knife on his person.

Hicklin was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service for probation violations and had an outstanding arrest warrant in Mecklenburg County for assault inflicting serious injury, said McDaniel.

Hicklin was arrested and transported to the Rowan County Magistrate’s Office, where he was served with the two outstanding warrants and charged with felony possession of a firearm by a felon, felony flee to elude, misdemeanor speeding more than 15 mph over the speed limit, misdemeanor reckless driving with wanton disregard, misdemeanor reckless driving to endanger, misdemeanor failure to heed lights or siren, misdemeanor failure to maintain lane control, misdemeanor unsafe lane change and misdemeanor littering under 15 pounds.

Hicklin was given a $60,000 total bond by Magistrate Landon Beattie and placed into the Rowan County Detention Center.

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