ROCK HILL, S.C. -- York County's embattled coroner Doug McKown was led from the probation office in handcuffs Friday afternoon.

Only Eyewitness News was there when McKown, 39, was arrested for violating his probation, according to warrants.

The new charges stem partly from an arrest Thursday night in Lincoln County where an officer stopped McKown and 43-year-old Eric Howell in McKown's York County government vehicle.

The police report states an officer saw the white sport utility vehicle parked at a store on Highway 27 and South Grove Street in Lincolnton, and noticed a passenger in the SUV holding aluminum can to his face and smoking from it. The officer said that's a common method of smoking crack and methamphetamine. The report states McKown and Howell saw the officer and started backing out of their parking space and driving away.

The officer said he saw the can fly out the passenger-side window and stopped the SUV. He said he smelled alcohol on McKown's breath. According the report, McKown was not intoxicated, but he was charged with having open containers of beer in the car and driving while drinking.

McKown said he'd had two beers.

Howell was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. McKown's York County vehicle was impounded.

Friday afternoon, Eyewitness News reporter Greg Suskin asked McKown about the incident. In an exclusive interview, he flatly denied that there was any drug use in his car.

McKown said he was giving a ride to a friend, Howell, who'd had too much to drink, and that was it. He said Howell wasn't doing drugs, but was drinking from the can. Police said the can was modified to be used for drugs.

Probation officials said because of McKown's arrest, his routine drug test, which is part of his probation, was moved up to Friday afternoon.

Following the test, McKown was arrested, cuffed and charged with violating that probation.

The warrant alleges that he lied about his arrest in Lincoln County, didn't immediately call his probation officer about the arrest, was in possession of a firearm, crossed state lines without permission and was in the company of a person with a criminal record, meaning Howell.

If convicted, McKown could face a year in prison.

In a week-long trial back in May, McKown was acquitted of charges of possession and distribution of cocaine.

In the weeks following the trial, he returned to his job as elected coroner.