By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Three men are facing drug charges after eluding Salisbury Police during a high-speed chase Thursday.
Capt. Shelia Lingle said the department’s drug unit attempted to stop Labryan Dion Hawkins, the driver of a blue Buick, on South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
Lingle said Hawkins turned right onto Mildred Avenue and slowed down to nearly stopping before taking off again.
Police followed him in a circle as he turned left onto Melrose Street, right at Vance Avenue, right at Bell Street and right back onto Mildred Avenue.
Hawkins ended up back on South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue where he hit the brakes, slid across the street and hit the curb on the passenger side, Lingle said.
The car went over the curb, spun around and headed south.
Lingle said Hawkins ran the stop sign at the intersection of Vance Avenue and traveled left of center to pass several vehicles.
He was traveling in excess of 80 miles per hour, Lingle said.
Lingle said as Hawkins was driving on South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, police saw a bag thrown out of the window.
The chase continued right onto Klumac Road toward Jake Alexander Boulevard and ended with a right turn on Julian Road near the old Food Lion warehouse.
Police arrested Hawkins, 26, of Linn Lane, and charged him with felony eluding arrest with a motor vehicle and driving while license revoked.
Officers went back to South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to retrieve the bag that was thrown out of the vehicle during the chase.
Lingle said it contained 8.3 grams of crack cocaine.
Hawkins, along with passengers Dionte Dayshawn Keaton, 17, of Foster Road in Cleveland and Christopher Negil Streater, 37, of Chesapeake Drive, have been charged with felony possession of crack cocaine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver.
Hawkins is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $5,000 bond. Keaton and Streater each have a $3,000 bond.