A Lincoln County man is charged with ramming a patrol car and leading deputies in a cross-county chase. The deputies said they already knew him from a recent encounter.
Deputies said they stopped a car on Highway 16 in Lincoln County around 8 a.m. Friday because its license plate had expired. The sheriff told Channel 9’s Ken Lemon the deputy recognized the driver was someone they arrested weeks ago.
The sheriff’s office said when the deputy approached the car, the driver refused to roll down his window to speak to them.
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Investigators say the driver backed into one of the patrol cars and then drove off, leading deputies into a chase along Highway 16. The chase passed through Gaston and Mecklenburg counties.
Authorities said the driver crossed the median, hit another car, then crashed into the woods near Nance Cove Road in western Mecklenburg County.
The suspect, Roan Sterling, 48, was taken into custody at the scene.
One officer was injured in the process, but the sheriff’s office said their injuries were minor and required stitches.
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Sterling was charged with felony flight to escape arrest, felony resisting a public officer, felony reckless driving, felony speeding, felony assault on a public official and wrongful passing. to the right. He was taken to the Lincoln County Jail and given $50,000 bond.
According to the sheriff, during a traffic stop a few weeks ago, Sterling claimed to be a sovereign citizen and said he did not need a license or car insurance because he did not recognize federal laws or state. The sheriff said the car had heavily tinted windows and the driver also refused to roll down his windows or get out of the car.
Because the officer couldn’t see inside, they smashed Sterling’s passenger window, the sheriff said. The man fled and officers briefly pursued him.
The sheriff said Sterling then went to FBI headquarters in Charlotte to claim Lincoln County officers were trying to kill him. The FBI detained him there and he was later driven back to Lincolnton and arrested.
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