Officials: NY man arrested in Iredell Co. after leading deputies on chase, hitting several vehicles

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — A New York man was arrested in Iredell County after leading deputies on a chase and hitting several vehicles last week, authorities said.

Sheriff’s deputies pulled over a car with Massachusetts registration plates on Interstate 77 on Dec. 21. During the traffic stop deputies said they became suspicious of possible criminal activity and began questioning the driver, Edgar Raphael Rodriguez, 35, of Brooklyn, New York. Officials said there was also a 16-year-old passenger in the car.

Rodriguez then sped away from the deputies, leading them on a vehicle chase. Authorities said that during the chase, Rodriguez threw a gun out of the car and struck a tractor-trailer.

Rodriguez then continued down I-77 southbound and struck several more vehicles and a guardrail before the car stopped near mile marker 44. Both Rodriguez and the teen jumped and ran away from the scene.

Deputies responded to the area of Hoover Road and Scarlet Tanager Lane to search for the suspects, who were believed to be trying to get another vehicle. Officials said the suspects even offered a nearby homeowner money to help them in hide from authorities.

A K-9 was brought in to help with the search and shortly after, detectives found the suspects and took them into custody. Deputies also learned the teen was Rodriguez’s son.

Once investigators searched the vehicle, they found 0.5 ounces of marijuana and several items of drug paraphernalia. Deputies also found the gun Rodriguez threw out and learned it had been stolen in Pennsylvania.

Authorities said Rodriguez was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center and investigators learned he was a convicted felon in the state of New York.

Rodriguez was charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule VI controlled substance, felony possession of a schedule VI controlled substance, felony maintaining a vehicle for the sale or use of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony possession of a stolen firearm, misdemeanor carrying concealed weapon, misdemeanor resisting, obstructing or delaying a law enforcement officer.

He was issued a bond of $250,000, and also received several charged from North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Officials said the Iredell County Department of Social Services will help with returning the 16-year-old to his family.

No other details have been released at this point. Return to this story for updates.

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‘He hit me’: Deputy rammed by stolen patrol car after high-speed chase

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