SALISBURY — A man was arrested after deputies reportedly witnessed him turn off all his vehicle’s lights and then speed on the interstate. A police chase began that ended when the man ran into a median.

The incident began at approximately 12:20 a.m. on Wednesday, when a man allegedly noticed a deputy parked near him at Love’s Travel Stop on Peeler Road. He then immediately stopped pumping gas and got into his black Dodge Charger, a spokesperson for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said.

Noticing the man’s alleged suspicious behavior, the deputy followed him out of the parking lot, at which point the man allegedly turned back around and entered the parking lot. The deputy then reportedly parked at the bridge over Interstate 85 and waited for the Charger to drive past, following it onto the interstate entrance ramp when it did. On the ramp, the man then turned off all the exterior lights on the Charger and began to speed away, the spokesperson said.

The deputy turned on his lights and siren in an attempt to stop the Charger, at which point the man sped up to 110 mph. The deputy followed the vehicle, which swerved from the right-most lane into the exit lane for Webb Road, then drove onto Webb Road and back onto the interstate.

Eventually, the man got onto U.S. Highway 29 and drove through China Grove. The spokesperson said that the deputy noticed the Charger swerving in and out of traffic while the man turned the exterior lights on and off at this time. 

At some point during the chase, the Charger struck the center median, deflating both of the driver’s side tires. Shortly after, the vehicle attempted to make a u-turn, at which point the deputy got in front of it and blocked it from moving while another patrol car was parked behind it.

Deputies arrested the driver and searched the car, reportedly finding a marijuana rolling tray. Deputies also found that the car was equipped with a remote-controlled license plate cover, the spokesperson said.

The driver, identified as 23-year-old Carson Evan Dabbs, was arrested and charged with felony flee to elude, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, reckless driving with wanton disregard, driving with an expired registration card or tag. He was also cited for failure to burn headlamps and speeding in excess of 35 mph. 

Dabbs was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and given a $30,000 bond.