On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at 2:20am, an officer with Morganton Department of Public Safety initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for a stop sign violation on W Fleming Dr near Burkemont Ave.
While calling in the traffic stop, the offender vehicle drove off at a high rate of speed, changed lanes without signaling and collided with a curb. The officer activated his red and blue emergency lights to signal the driver to pull over. The driver failed to heed to the lights and siren and continued on W Fleming Dr near Morganton Heights Blvd.
The vehicle sped up to a speed of 58 mph in a 45 mph zone and crossed 2 lanes of travel into oncoming traffic. The vehicle continued past several locations to stop, then abruptly slowed down, and pulled into the parking lot of the Wash House on W Fleming Dr, missing the entrance and colliding with a second curb.
The driver refused to provide her license and exit the vehicle. The driver was assisted out of the vehicle and placed under arrest. Upon further investigation, the driver was identified as Irea Suionne Uebele, 46, of Morganton. Uebele was charged with the following:
- DWI
- Failure to Heed to Lights and Siren
- Stop Sign Violation
- Stop Light Violation
- Speed 58mph in 45mph Zone
- Fail to Use Turn Signals
- No Operators License
- Drive Left of Center
- Wrong Way Driving
- Open Container
- Resist, Delay, Obstruct an Officer
- Assault on a Government Official
The vehicle being driven by Uebele was seized pursuant to NCGS 20-28.3 for previous DWI convictions by Uebele.
Uebele was held under a $5,000.00 bond and her court dates are set for February 24, 2025 and May 5, 2025.
Uebele has two previous DWI convictions, two speeding convictions, one violation of alcohol restrictions and one conviction of no child restraint in rear seat of vehicle among several other charges.