Gaston police gets in two chases on Friday

Gaston, SC (Paul Kirby) Major Stephen Watkins of the Gaston Police Department ended up chasing two separate vehicles that failed to stop for his blue lights on Friday. According to Watkins, the first chase involved a person who was driving under the influence. The second chase that took place later that night, was much longer and more involved.

Watkins said that he was patrolling in the area of Glenn and Gardners Terrace Roads when he got behind a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign. When Watkins ran the tag on the car, it came back as stolen off a Mercedes Benz.

The fleeing vehicle, a Honda that was also reported stolen out of Cayce, led Watkins down Charleston Hwy into Cayce, back over toward the Columbia Airport, and eventually out onto I-26. From there, the chase continued onto I-77 and over into the city of Columbia. With the assistance of several other agencies, the chase finally came to a halt near the Whaley Street Apartments.

The driver of the fleeing car was charged with failure to stop for a blue light, several counts of hit and run, and several other charges.