Drunk driving stop leads to weapons charges | Crime

SALISBURY - An alleged case of drunk driving turned into something more on Sunday afternoon for Rowan County Sheriff's Deputy Lt. Randy St. Clair.

According to the report, St. Clair spotted a maroon Lincoln making an improper left turn on the Interstate 85 South ramp.  St. Clair noticed that driver was traveling at approximately 35 miles an hour in a 55 mile an hour zone.  St. Clair followed the car and then stopped the driver on Highway 152 at Kress Venture Drive. 

The driver, Brian Taylor, told St. Clair that he had been visiting the Food Lion Auto Fair at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and admitted to drinking alcohol during the day.  St. Clair noted a strong odor of alcohol, and when he searched Taylor's car, he found two Styrofoam cups in the cup holders in the front of the car.  Taylor told St. Clair that the cups contained mixed drinks. 

While continuing to search the car, St. Clair also found two liquor bottles.  According to the report, both were opened and one was nearly empty.  St. Clair also found a black bag that contained two pistols that Taylor said belonged to him.

St. Clair noted that Taylor failed sobriety tests by the side of the road.  When he was taken to the China Grove Police Department, Taylor blew a .22 and a .23 on a blood alcohol test, according to the report.

Taylor was taken to the Magistrate's Office and was charged with driving while impaired, consuming while driving, having an open container of alcohol in the car, and carrying a concealed weapon.  Taylor was released on $1000 bond.