Two suspects are in custody after a Surry County Sheriff’s deputy witnessed what he thought was a drug deal in the Holly Springs area Monday afternoon.

According to Surry County Sheriff Graham Atkinson, Deputy Larry Lowe was patrolling in the Ararat area of the county when he saw a suspicious vehicle. He followed the vehicle to the Holly Springs area where he witnessed an alleged drug transaction.

Another deputy followed the Mitsubishi truck back to Ararat-Longhill Road where Scotty Douglas Spurlin, 46, of 141 Spurlin Lane, Lowgap, was stopped.

Lowe continued to follow the 1991 Honda Accord to U.S. 601 where a chase was initiated in front of the Cook Out restaurant. The car was being driven by Ronnie Nelson Poole, 38, of 127 Spurlin Lane, Lowgap.

Poole continued westbound to Interstate 74 where speeds reached about 100 miles per hour. Poole continued onto Interstate 77 North where he drove through the median several times, even traveling north in the southbound lane. He eventually drove through the North Carolina Welcome Center and then onto Clyde Hayes Road, according to law enforcement officials. The chase continued to Hanover Lane where Poole collided with Trooper Robbie Ellison of the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Poole drove to Henry Road where he struck a tree before fleeing on foot. Poole was apprehended by both North Carolina and Virginia officials after a short foot chase just after 4 p.m., Atkinson reported.

Poole will be charged in North Carolina with felony flee to elude arrest, driving while license revoked and fictitious registration. Atkinson said Poole also has outstanding warrants for assault on a female and non-support.

Poole was taken into custody by Virginia State Police officials. He will be extradited back to North Carolina on Tuesday, according to Ellison.

Sgt. Ken Horton with the Virginia State Police said Poole was charged in Virginia with reckless driving, no operator’s license and operating a vehicle with no insurance. Horton was able to serve Poole with the warrant for felony flee to elude arrest from North Carolina, for which Poole is being held in the New River Regional Jail without bond.

Atkinson said he is pleased with Monday’s arrests.

“This is another one in a series of arrests that we have made lately in the Ararat-Longhill community related to drugs and traffic and weapons charges. It appears that our presence there is paying off. We want those folks there to continue to work with us, continue to feed us information and be patient with us as we try to solve their problems down there. The officers did a super job getting this guy in custody and nobody got hurt, under the circumstances. It’s obvious that the suspect didn’t care about what happened to anybody else, but we did,” Atkinson said.

Spurlin was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, carrying a concealed weapon and driving while impaired and on an outstanding warrant for possession of stolen goods. He is being held on a $55,000 secured bond. His first appearance in District Court will be on June 15.

Poole’s first appearance in Surry County is scheduled for June 10.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.