By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

A Spencer man was charged with cocaine and marijuana possession after taking deputies on a vehicle chase on Statesville Boulevard.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office charged Jameel Kenneth Stephens-Maddox, 26, of the 300 block of Eighth Street, with felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance; felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; misdemeanor possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance up to 1/2 ounce; misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia; misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon; felony possession of a firearm by a felon; and felony fleeing to elude arrest.

Authorities say that just before 4 p.m. Thursday, a deputy on patrol saw a black Dodge Charger crossing the center line. The deputy had to slow down to avoid a collision. He turned his patrol car around and turned on his lights and siren.

Stephens-Maddox sped up to 15 miles over the speed limit on Statesville Boulevard. He ran a stoplight at Majolica Road and continued onto Ashbrook Road, according to a report. He finally stopped at Ashbrook and Willow roads.

The deputy approached the car and said he saw the driver through tinted windows “fiddling around” near the floorboards and under the driver’s seat. The driver opened the door and the deputy told him to show his hands. Instead, Stephens-Maddox became argumentative and asked why he was being stopped, a report said.

A second deputy arrived and Stephens-Maddox was put in handcuffs. He continued to yell at the deputies and was uncooperative, the report said.

The officers said they could smell burnt marijuana from the car.

A loaded handgun wrapped in a sock was found under the driver’s seat. The deputies also found a substance believed to be cocaine, a fixed-blade knife between the driver’s seat and center console, burnt aluminum foil with remnants of cocaine, two cellphones and a bag of marijuana in the center console.

A bookbag in the back seat had a piece of foil and a digital scale inside, the report said.

Stephens-Maddox was released from the Rowan County Detention Center under a $5,000 secured bond.