In the way: driver jailed after holding up deputy

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

One stubborn motorist landed in jail after he refused to get out of a lawman responding to an emergency call.

And, the man drove at speeds up to 75 mph to stay in front of the deputy, even though the blue lights and siren on the patrol car were activated.

 “This is the first time I’ve known of something like this happening,” said Capt. Steve Cabe of the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department.

Eulalio Marquez Rosales, 36, of 1221 Shumate Mountain Road, Hays, was charged with obstruct and delay of an officer, failure to yield to blue lights and siren, driving left of center, careless and reckless driving, driving 75 mph in 45-mph zone, and driving with an expired inspection sticker, Cabe said.

According to the report filed by Deputy Denny Parunak, he received an emergency call to go to East Wilkes High School around 3 p.m. on Jan. 19.

En route to the school, he turned onto Rock Creek Road and got behind a Chevrolet pickup driven by Rosales.

Parunak turned on his blue lights and siren, but the driver of the pickup would not pull over.

“He followed the truck for three miles,” Cabe said. “The man driving the truck was swerving all over the road.”

The deputy moved his vehicle left and right in the roadway to try to make the driver of the pickup see him and stop, according to the report.

Rosales finally pulled over, was charged and taken to Wilkes County Detention Center in Wilkesboro. He posted the $300 secure bond later the same day, according to jail officials.

Cabe said it is standard practice for motorist to pull off the road to let emergency traffic go by.

“People should get out of the way at the first safe location,” Cabe said. “That doesn’t mean stop dead in the road, but slow down if you’re in a curvy situation and pull over at the first safe location.”

About the procedure, Cabe added, “You need to be as safe as possible, both the person driving the emergency vehicle and other drivers. And that would include not making any sudden stops or movements.”