A Roanoke Rapids man was arrested Saturday morning after he allegedly led police on a chase in a stolen car.

Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said when Officer Mark Oakley initially observed the vehicle traveling south on Roanoke Avenue shortly before 2 a.m., it was going so fast he thought it was an emergency vehicle.

With assistance from Officer Gorton Williams, Oakley pulled behind the vehicle, a Mitsubishi Gallant, driven by a man later identified as Christopher Finch, 29, of Miles Street.

Finch made a left turn at the Highway 48 and Highway 158 intersection, running a red light in the process.

He was stopped at Virginia Avenue and Highway 158. Finch was charged with driving while license revoked, driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, possession of a stolen vehicle and failure to stop for a stoplight.

He was jailed on $3,000 bond and has a January 24 court date.

Jackson said the car was reported stolen by the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.

This arrest, Jackson said, serves as a reminder Roanoke Rapids police will aggressively be enforcing DWI laws as part of the Booze It and Lose It campaign through January 5.

The enforcement will include checking stations.

A Labor Day campaign in Halifax County saw 16 checkpoints net 18 driving while impaired charges, Jackson said. “Honestly, we'd like to see them be zero.”

Jackson said people who have parties can be held liable if someone leaves a party drunk. “Always have a designated driver or someone who can pick you up. We'll be doing saturation patrols, looking out for careless and reckless driving, speeding and aggressive driving.”

Jackson also encouraged parents to keep an inventory of liquor on hand as alcohol-related crashes are the top killer of teens. “Parents should set clear rules against drinking under age.”