On Friday, a traffic stop on U.S. 74 near Monroe escalated into a 16-mile high-speed chase into Anson County, deputies said. Investigators reported the driver hit speeds over 100 mph, crossed the center line multiple times and even pulled a U-turn through the grassy median before deputies used tire-deflation devices to bring the vehicle to a stop. Deputies identified the driver as Devonte Robinson and took him to the Union County Detention Center.
According to a Facebook post by the Union County Sheriff's Office, a deputy activated blue lights to initiate a traffic stop on Highway 74 near North Camden Street, but the vehicle took off instead of pulling over. Deputies say the driver tossed items out of the car, drove left of center several times and kept pushing the speedometer until Anson County deputies stepped in and deployed stop-sticks, ending the chase after roughly 16.6 miles.
"The deputies did their job the right way and kept the public safe," Sheriff Eddie Cathey wrote in the post. The sheriff's office said the driver showed clear signs of impairment and was booked into the Union County Detention Center. Officials said a magistrate initially ordered a no-bond hold because of prior charges, a decision that was later changed to a $50,000 bond, according to the Union County Sheriff's Office.
Legal Implications and Possible Charges
North Carolina law allows a charge of "speeding to elude arrest" to be upgraded to a felony if at least two aggravating factors are present, including excessive speed, reckless driving or gross impairment. As outlined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141.5, those aggravating factors can raise the offense to a felony level and permit forfeiture of vehicles used in felony elude cases. Whether any felony counts are pursued will depend on the evidence investigators compile and the district attorney's review.
How to Follow the Case
The sheriff's office shared its initial account of the pursuit on Facebook, and the department's website provides tools to look up arrest and custody information. For inmate inquiries and incident reports, visit the Union County Sheriff's Office online. Once prosecutors file formal charges, case details and court dates will appear in dockets maintained by the Union County Clerk of Superior Court. Officials are asking anyone with information about the pursuit to contact law enforcement.
The investigation remains active, and prosecutors will decide on final charges after reviewing the evidence. For now, sheriff's officials say the coordinated response from multiple agencies and the timely use of stop-sticks kept an already risky chase from becoming far worse for other drivers and first responders on U.S. 74.
