By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Durham man with alcohol in his vehicle led Rowan County deputies on a chase through Kannapolis, authorities reported Monday.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Jerome Nelson, 45, of the 900 block of Corona Street in Durham with a misdemeanor charged of having unsealed wine or liquor in the passenger area, misdemeanor failure to stop and yield right of way, misdemeanor speeding, misdemeanor driving while license is revoked, misdemeanor reckless driving, and felony fleeing to elude arrest.

He also has an outstanding warrant for misdemeanor failure to appear in court from Durham authorities.

The chase happened just before noon Friday when Deputy M.S. Benfield stopped a blue Mercedes on U.S. 29 near Sonic Drive-in in Kannapolis. The deputy checked the license plate and determined the registration was expired, the owner’s license was suspended and there was a warrant for the driver’s arrest in Durham.

The deputy approached the passenger side of the vehicle and asked the driver for his license. The driver, later identified as Jerome Nelson, reached into his glove compartment and produced a paper copy of his license.

A second deputy joined the traffic stop and saw Nelson reach into his pockets and then put the car in drive.

The vehicle sped down U.S. 29 toward Landis reaching speeds of 80 mph, a report said.

The car turned onto Coldwater Street, didn’t stop at a stop sign at Ryder Avenue and headed toward Kannapolis.

A third deputy joined the pursuit, which continued past Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. The vehicle stopped at a Glendale Avenue driveway.

Nelson was arrested. When deputies searched his vehicle, they found a Glock magazine for a handgun in the center console and several open containers of alcohol, authorities said.