Douglas McKown

YORK COUNTY CORONER CHARGED IN LINCOLN TRAFFIC STOP
More problems for embattled coroner Doug McKown

By Jon Mayhew
Publisher
July 18, 2008
LINCOLNTON -- York County coroner Doug McKown violates his probation after being involved in a traffic stop in Lincoln County. His passenger even admits to the officer he was smoking crack. The incident unfolded Thursday night around 9:05 p.m. after deputy John Dunigan pulled into the One Stop at the intersection of West Main and South Grove Streets.

He noticed Eric Mark Howell, 43, a passenger in McKown's 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, using a drink can to smoke. The passenger then put the can down as McKown left the scene in the vehicle, which was registered to York County Government.

Deputy Dunigan called for backup from the Lincolnton Police and stopped the vehicle near South Grove Street and Childs Street in Lincolnton.

At that time, Howell tossed the can out of the window. McKown, told officers he didn't know what his passenger was smoking. Howell admitted he was smoking crack cocaine and was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, littering, and open container of alcohol. Howell was released on a $500 secured bond.

McKown was given a field sobriety test that was inconclusive and he refused a field Breathalyzer test. McKown, 39, of Southbend Road in Clover, South Carolina was charged with driving while ha an open container of alcohol. He was released on a $500 unsecured bond.
Problems aren't over for McKown. He was arrested at the York County Courthouse Friday for violating his probation.

McKown maintained he was giving Howell a ride home. Howell resides in Gastonia.
McKown is currently on probation for a conviction of unlawfully possessing a prescription drug. He was sentenced on May 24, the same day he was acquitted of felony cocaine charges.
Because of his acquittal, he was able to return to the elected post Gov. Mark Sanford suspended him from in 2006.

According to the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, an arrest warrant was issued for him in York County today for the following reasons:

• Lying to agent and supervisor about his North Carolina arrest
• Failing to refrain from possessing a firearm
• Failing to immediately notify an agent of his arrest
• Failing to refrain from breaking federal, state or local laws (the North Carolina case)
• Failing to refrain from associating with someone who has a criminal record, in this case Eric Howell, the man accused of smoking crack in the county vehicle McKown was driving
• Failure to refrain from leaving the state without permission.
McKown said earlier this year he's not running for re-election as coroner in York County.
The Rock Hill Herald contributed to this story.