A Lexington woman has been arrested after being involved in a hit and run, ramming a patrol car, and leading officers on a short chase.
It happened Saturday at 11:30 p.m. just outside of Toner’s Pub in downtown Morganton. Upon arrival officers discovered a parked vehicle that had been struck on the rear bumper forcing it into a utility pole. The suspect’s vehicle had already left the scene, but was located shortly thereafter in the parking lot of Ingles on Carbon City Road. Officers made contact with Cassandra Queen, 34 of Lexington, NC. Efforts to gain Queen’s cooperation were unsuccessful. She was told she was under arrest and to exit the vehicle. When Queen did not comply, officers attempted to unlock the car. Queen then started the engine, put the car in reverse and rammed into a Morganton patrol car, exiting between two other vehicles leaving the parking lot.
From Jamestown Road she turned left onto Interstate 40 East, where after a short pursuit, Troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol deployed spike strips to deflated Queen’s tires, causing her vehicle to come to a stop.
Queen was taken into custody and charged with:
Driving While Impaired
Hit and Run, Leaving the Scene (property damage)
3 counts of Resisting a Public Officer
Speeding to Elude Arrest
Damage to Government Property
Left of Center
Failing to Stop for a Stop Light
Reckless Driving
She’s in the Burke County Jail under a 424,000 secured bond. Her first appearance in court is scheduled for today, Monday the 26th.
