Rock Hill police: Driver tried to evade police with children in car

A Sharon man accused of trying to evade police while driving with 12- and 16-year-old passengers in his vehicle was arrested Tuesday morning by Rock Hill police.

Christopher Keith Gregory, 29, was charged with two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child after trying to flee from police with two girls in his car, according to a police report.

Gregory, who also faces several traffic charges in connection with the incident, was wanted by York police for shoplifting charges, the report said.

Police were conducting speed enforcement 7:15 a.m. Tuesday near Finley Road Elementary School on Finley Road, between South York Avenue and Cherry Road. They saw a green Honda that appeared to be speeding driving south on Finley Road.

Police began to follow the Honda and tried to stop it with blue lights and a siren. The vehicle made a U-turn, crossed into the oncoming lane and passed other vehicles despite oncoming traffic, the report said.

The officer stopped pursuing the vehicle because of heavy traffic, but radioed other police units, the report said. The suspect stopped the car, got out and began to run, while a woman sitting in the front passenger seat held her hands up, the report said.

During the chase, Gregory tried to jump a creek, but instead fell and surrendered to police, the report said. The girls were released to their mother.

Gregory was being held at the York County Detention Center on $12,500 bond. He also is charged with three counts of shoplifting and domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature.

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 11:05 AM with the headline "Rock Hill police: Driver tried to evade police with children in car."