MAN ARRESTED AFTER SUNDAY CHASE
Suspect took authorities from Lincolnton into Gaston County

Exclusive Photo by Jon Mayhew/TCS
David Alan McKinnish is led away from the Lincoln County Magistrate's Office after leading authorities on a chase from Lincoln into Gaston County Sunday afternoon.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- A Sunday afternoon of drinks at a local restaurant landed a Stanley man in jail and his friend in a hospital, after the duo led authorities on a two-county chase Sunday afternoon.

The incident started after the Lincoln County Communications Center received a call of an intoxicated driver, driving a pickup towing a boat, that left Tradewinds Seafood Company on East Main Street around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Lincolnton Police officer D. Mocanu began following the vehicle, with blue lights on, down East Main Street and onto Highway 27. Two Lincoln County Sheriff's deputies' cruisers also joined the chase that didn't reach more than 50 miles-per-hour.

Driving the pickup was David Alan McKinnish of Stanley. His passenger was the registered owner of the vehicle, Eric Bohannon, also of Stanley.

As the pair made their way east down Highway 27, authorities from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department kept chasing the vehicle after city police followed chase procedures and ended their portion of the chase.

Gaston County Police, meantime, made their way west on Highway 27, trying to intercept the vehicle.

Authorities said Sunday night McKinnish nearly ran into a ditch twice and ran cars off the road before stopping near the town of Stanley. His blood alcohol level was .18, which is more than twice the legal limit.

McKinnish was taken into custody; Bohannon was so intoxicated that he laid in a ditch and had to be taken to Gaston Memorial Hospital.

McKinnish faced several traffic charges from both Lincolnton Police and Lincoln County Sheriff's Department. He posted bond and was released from jail.

Charges against Bohannon are pending.

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