On Friday night, Sgt. Charles Rose with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office’s Patrol Division was patrolling in the Aurora area. At approximately 9:04 p.m., Rose observed an occupied vehicle stationary on the shoulder of the road near Mary’s Chapel Church Road and Walker Road. As Rose approached the vehicle to check on the occupant, the driver drove away. Rose continued to observe the vehicle in the area, noticing additional suspicious behavior before the driver fled the area at a high rate of speed.

Rose activated his vehicle’s emergency equipment and attempted to catch the fleeing vehicle. The driver of the fleeing vehicle made several quick turns and continued to drive at a high rate of speed. Rose caught the vehicle near the intersection of Mary’s Chapel Church Road and N.C. Highway 306. The driver failed to stop and continued to drive erratically.

After turning onto N.C. 306 then onto West Road, the driver stopped at a residence and exited the vehicle. Rose approached the suspect and gave commands for the driver to stop and show his hands. The driver continued to walk toward the residence and failed to follow the commands. Rose then used a Taser on the suspect and took him into custody. Ammunition and a knife were discovered in the suspect’s pockets, and a rifle was found in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

As a result of evidence collected during the incident, Rose charged Donald Ray Johnson, 57, of Mary’s Chapel Church Road, Edward, with felony flee to elude arrest, driving while impaired, resisting a public officer, speeding 75 mph in 45-mph zone and aggressive driving.

Johnson was held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $3,500 secured bond.