Rowan County Magistrate Jeffrey Forbes was charged Thursday with driving while impaired following an afternoon traffic stop in Stanly County.

Trooper W.P. Efird said the initial call came into the 911 dispatcher from a motorist who’d followed Forbes’ vehicle for six or seven miles and noted he appeared to be intoxicated. The driver noted Forbes did not remain in his lane of travel.

The Oakboro Police pulled Forbes over, but the highway patrol continued with the incident. The trooper was traveling behind the police car.

The trooper said the stop occurred at 5:30 p.m. on N.C. 205 at East Second Street in Oakboro. Efird said Forbes had a strong odor of alcohol about him.

Forbes, 52, of Concord, was charged with driving while impaired, reckless driving and his license was automatically revoked for 30 days.

Efird said Forbes was extremely cooperative and released to a sober adult.

A Highway Patrol sergeant refused to provide Forbes’ blood alcohol content and would only say it was over the .08 legal limit.

Chief District Court Judge Charlie Brown, who supervises the magistrates, was in court and not able to immediately respond. Forbes has been a magistrate for less than a year.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.