NORTH CAROLINA — A routine license checkpoint Tuesday night turned into a multi-county pursuit after a driver fled from North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers, reaching speeds over 100 mph, authorities said.
Troopers said Vaughn Paul Mitchell III, 34, of Claremont, approached a checkpoint on Highway 16 near Shell Hollar Road around 10:30 p.m. Sept. 30.
Mitchell did not have identification and refused to pull over, prompting a chase in his 2015 Chevrolet Malibu.
The pursuit continued through Alexander County, then onto U.S. 64 into Iredell County, and eventually onto westbound Interstate 40 toward Catawba County. Troopers attempted a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle, which was unsuccessful. Mitchell’s vehicle was finally disabled by stop sticks near mile marker 133. He pulled over on the exit ramp for Highway 16 and was taken into custody.
A female passenger in the vehicle was not charged.
Mitchell faces multiple charges, including felony flee to elude, failure to heed blue lights and sirens, aggressive driving, speeding, driving while license revoked, carrying a concealed weapon, resisting a public officer, and injury to real property. He also had three outstanding warrants. He was held on a $125,001 bond at the Catawba County Detention Center.
Mitchell’s vehicle was seized under North Carolina’s “Run and You’re Done” law.
