Carl Lee Burch Jr. of Salisbury was convicted on April 7 in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of felony flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle, felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell, deliver a schedule VI controlled substance, and two counts of felony breaking and/or entering a motor vehicle.

Burch admitted to his status as a habitual felon. Judge Joseph N. Crosswhite sentenced Burch to a minimum of 58 months to a maximum of 82 months in prison.

On June 23, 2015, an N.C. Highway Patrol trooper saw a vehicle traveling east on Highway 150 at a high rate of speed. The trooper turned on his blue lights and attempted to stop the vehicle. The vehicle did not initially stop and passed a deputy who had stopped another vehicle.

The vehicle finally stopped and the driver fled. The trooper chased the driver and was able to place him in custody. The driver was identified as Burch. The trooper found a plastic bag of marijuana in Burch’s underwear. Burch said he ran because his license was revoked.

On Sept. 8, 2015, officers with the Salisbury Police Department responded to an attempted larceny of a motor vehicle on Fulton Street. The victim told officers that she noticed her vehicle had been moved and her ignition had been damaged.

The officers received another call of an attempted larceny of a vehicle on Mitchell Avenue. The caller stated two male subjects were trying to get a vehicle running but were unable to do so and left the vehicle in the road. Officers responded to the location and spoke to the caller who gave a specific description of the individuals. Another officer found two males that matched the description a few blocks from the scene, one of whom was identified as Burch.

Burch was previously convicted of felony flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle, felony possession of stolen goods, and felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle, among other convictions.

Clarence Eugene Rhyne of China Grove was convicted on April 7 in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of felony flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle and felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official. Rhyne admitted to his status as a habitual felon and Crosswhite sentenced Rhyne to a minimum of 76 months to a maximum of 101 months in prison.

On April 7, 2011, officers were conducting a checkpoint in the area of South Main Street and Owens Road in China Grove. Officers heard tires sliding and saw a vehicle make a very fast turn. Officers pursued the vehicle, which went through a yard and came back onto the road. The vehicle eventually lost control and struck the porch area of a house. The driver, identified as Rhyne, put the vehicle in reverse, almost striking another officer.

Rhyne was previously convicted of two separate counts of felony possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine and felony possession of cocaine, among other convictions.

Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said that individuals who choose to flee and elude law enforcement officers while operating a motor vehicle are dangerous for the innocent drivers who are traveling on the same road. Cook said she appreciated the work of Assistant District Attorney Paxton Butler in removing two repeat offenders from the community with lengthy prison sentences.