Catawba County man leads troopers on multi-county high-speed chase: NCSHP

CONOVER, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A man has been charged after leading authorities on a chase, exceeding speeds of 100 mph, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, troopers conducted a license checkpoint on NC 16 near Shell Hollar Road. A 2015 Chevrolet Malibu approached the checkpoint, and the driver was asked to move to the shoulder because he did not have a valid ID on him, officials said.

The driver, 34-year-old Vaughn Paul Mitchell, did not pull over and a chase was initiated. The chase continued into Alexander County at speeds faster than 100 mph. Mitchell turned onto US 64 and went into Iredell County before going onto I-40 west towards Catawba County. As he attempted to merge onto I-40, a trooper tried a precision immobilization technique (PIT maneuver), but was unsuccessful.

Near mile marker 133, the Malibu struck stop sticks that were deployed by troopers. Mitchell pulled over onto the NC 16 ramp, where he was taken into custody without incident. A woman was also in the vehicle but was not charged or taken into custody.

Mitchell is being held in the Catawba County Detention Center under a $125,100 bond for:

• Felony flee to elude
• Failure to heed blue lights and sirens
• Aggressive driving
• Speeding
• Driving while license revoked
• Carrying a concealed weapon
• Resisting a public officer
• Injury to real property

Mitchell was also served with three outstanding warrants, highway patrol said. His vehicle was seized under North Carolina’s “Run and You’re Done” law.