LINCOLN MAN JAILED ON TRAFFIC, SEX CHARGES

Joshua James Powell is arrested after leading authorities in a chase. Photo Contributed/TCS

By Jon Mayhew

MAIDEN -- A police chase by a Lincoln County Sheriff's deputy Friday afternoon in Catawba County led to the arrest of a Lincolnton man on traffic and sex charges.

Traffic safety officer Sgt. L.W. Ingle was traveling East Maiden Road around 1:15pm when a speeding SUV passed him in the opposite direction. Ingle, a member of the Catawba-Lincoln County Joint Task Force, said the SUV was speeding more than 15 miles-per-hour over the speed limit.

Ingle began chasing the vehicle on East Maiden Road, Buffalo Shoals Road, South Oliver’s Crossroads and Dolph Monroe Road before getting the SUV stopped in a private driveway. During the chase, the vehicle ran through a tree trimming operation that had one lane blocked for work in progress.

As Ingle approached the vehicle on Dolph Monroe Road, the officer noticed the driver’s side door partially open before the car came to a stop. Ingle pulled the right front of the patrol car against the door so it could not completely open. Both vehicles received minor damage in the incident.

The white male and white female were taken into custody as other deputies from Catawba and Lincoln Counties arrived on the scene. The white female was a 15-year-old juvenile and was not charged. She was placed in the custody of DSS.

Joshua James Powell, 31, of the 400 block of Harris Drive, Lincolntonm was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana; driving while license revoked; speeding; reckless driving to endanger; failure to stop for a blue light and siren; aggressive driving; fleeing to elude arrest, injury to real property; unsafe passing; unsafe tires; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; contributing to the delinquency of a minor and use of a controlled substance by a minor.

During the investigation, it was learned that Powell allegedly had sexual relations with the juvenile on several occasions during the last two months in Lincoln County.

He was also charged with three counts of statutory rape and sexual offense with a juvenile older than six.

He is being held in the Catawba County Detention Center on a $191,000 secured bond He had a first appearance in Catawba County District Court Monday and is scheduled to appear in court on the traffic charges on Jan. 14, 2009.