By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — An early-morning police chase ended in a crash and the arrest of one man Monday.

Authorities say an officer was patrolling a hotel parking lot and two men ran after seeing the officer.

The incident occurred about 5:30 a.m. in the parking lot between the Marriott and Holiday Inn Express, 120 Marriott Circle. An officer had been in the area because of a rash of vehicle break-ins at the hotels. When the two men saw the officer in the parking lot, they rushed to a vehicle and drove away, said police Capt. Shelia Lingle.

Lingle said the officer pursued the suspects as they sped onto Interstate 85 southbound. By the time the officer caught up with the Jeep Cherokee at Exit 68 to China Grove, the vehicle had run off the road and crashed. Both men ran from the vehicle. One of them was caught with the assistance of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit.

Police charged Dejuan Cortez China, 19, of Charlotte, with felony fleeing to elude arrest, felony possession of a stolen vehicle, felony possession of a stolen firearm, and two counts of felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle. He was issued a $30,000 secured bond. He has a first court appearance set for Wednesday.

Two cars were broken into at the hotel. Officers found a stolen handgun in the sport utility vehicle, crack cocaine and a Kevlar vest. The gun was reported stolen in Kings Mountain.