STATESVILLE — What began as a traffic stop early Sunday turned into a 12-hour standoff with the driver holding a gun to his head as he confronted Iredell and Cabarrus county sheriff’s deputies.

Nicholas Foster Rhoads, 34, of Statesville, was in the Iredell County jail Monday on a variety of charges.

Authorities said Rhoads threatened to shoot himself and said he wanted to provoke deputies to shoot him. Negotiators talked to him for 12 hours before he put the gun away and surrendered.

Cabarrus deputies set up the traffic stop because Rhoads was reported to have a gun. Rhoads refused to stop and fled the deputies. Iredell County deputies joined the pursuit. During the chase, Rhoads pointed a gun at deputies while speeding along Interstate 77 North, authorities said.

Deputies used stop sticks to try to end the chase, but Rhoads continued on flat tires to Starlight Drive, where he could go no farther.

The area was secured while deputies and trained negotiators tried to talk to Rhoads.

Rhoads was charged with felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony assault on law enforcement with a firearm, felony fleeing to elude arrest, misdemeanor reckless driving, misdemeanor resisting an officer, and no operator’s license.

He appeaared before an Iredell County magistrate, who issued a $510,000 bond.

Rhoads has an extensive criminal history, along with several aliases. He has been convicted of probation violations, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, driving while license revoked, possession of cannabis, aggravated assault with a firearm, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and domestic battery.

Additional charges are pending.