By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A man and woman led Salisbury police officers on a short vehicle chase from the Marriott hotel parking lot to Lowe’s Home Improvement, police said. They are accused of breaking into a vehicle at the hotel.

Officers were on patrol at the hotel, 120 Marriott Circle, after recent vehicle break-ins there and discovered a vehicle that was double-parked. Two people were inside the vehicle, and an officer pulled up to speak with them. The driver took off, said police Capt. Shelia Lingle.

The driver turned right approaching the on-ramp to Exit 76 on Interstate 85, headed southbound and then made a sharp U-turn. He drove down the median headed in the other direction. The driver got back on East Innes Street toward Faith Road, then turned right onto Bendix Drive and made a hard turn into the Lowe’s parking lot and stopped.

The driver was identified as Michael Lee Fink Jr., 38, of the 100 block of South Myrtle Avenue, China Grove. The passenger was identified as Tanya Nicole Weier, 31, of the 100 block of Coppley Road, Linwood.

Fink was searched and found in possession of hypodermic needles. The needles were found in the car in a zippered bag. The officer found 10 needles, some of which had been used. Officials say Fink also had shoelaces, straws, gauze and cotton balls.

Weier was searched and officers found an alprazolam pill.

Officers also found copper pipes in the car that had been taken from the back of a pickup parked at the hotel, Lingle said. The pickup belonged to C.E. Holt Refrigeration of Charlotte.

Fink was charged with felony breaking and entering, misdemeanor larceny, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and fleeing to elude arrest. According to the Rowan County jail records, Fink also has pending charges of resisting arrest and driving without a license.

Weier was charged with misdemeanor possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Fink remains in the county jail under a $6,000 secured bond. Weier gave a written promise to appear in court.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.