By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A late-night vehicle chase that began at the Economy Inn ended with a crash in front of the Rufty-Holmes Senior Center and a man in custody.

Police officials say the Salisbury man drove throughout the city and even sideswiped a police vehicle.

The Salisbury Police Department charged Cedric Cornell Ross, 34, of 402 Vance Ave., with misdemeanor resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer; felony receiving or transferring stolen vehicles; misdemeanor vandalism to real property; felony possession of a firearm by a felon; felony possession of a controlled substance Schedule II; misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance Schedule VI; felony altering or destroying evidence of criminal conduct; and felony fleeing to elude arrest with motor vehicle.

Police Capt. Melonie Thompson said the chase began about 10:23 p.m. Thursday with a Rowan County sheriff’s deputy trying to make a stop at the Economy Inn on Bendix Drive to serve outstanding warrants on Cedric Ross.

Ross but took off in his Ford Explorer and traveled to Faith Road, Newsome Road and Longview Avenue. Police said it was on Newsome Road that Ross tossed something from the vehicle. Police deployed stop sticks at South Main Street and Military Avenue, but Ross kept driving. Ross drove near McDonald’s at East Innes Street and Bringle Ferry Road.

Thompson said at some point, an officer’s SUV was sideswiped, causing damage to that vehicle. Ross continued onto Crawford Street and South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Ross ran off the road and crashed into the sign in front of Rufty-Holmes. He ran from his vehicle but was tackled a short distance later by an officer.

Police seized 0.1 grams of crack cocaine near Ross’ head during his arrest. He had swallowed some of it, Thompson said.

Rufty-Holmes Senior Center Executive Director Rick Eldridge said he received a call late Thursday informing him that there was damage to the sign, but he wasn’t prepared for what he saw Friday morning. He thought someone had vandalized the sign. What he saw was a brick column ripped from the ground and the sign lying on the sidewalk.

A tree had been uprooted and some flowers ran over by Ross’ vehicle. There also were tire tracks through the flower bed. When center staff members arrived Friday morning, they moved the sign and bricks into the center parking lot.

Eldridge said it appears to him that the vehicle went airborne at some point because there were areas where he could see tire impressions and areas where none of the flowers were damaged.

Eldridge said the sign and landscaping had been installed in November after a series of committee meetings. He said the agency wanted to beautify the roadside with new landscaping and signage. He’s been in contact with the center’s insurance company.

Ross remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $50,000 secured bond.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.