24-year-old Chanceler Timothy Johnson of Refour Avenue S.W. in Valdese has been arrested by Catawba County Sheriff’s Officers on two felony counts of eluding arrest with a motor vehicle causing death. He was also charged with a misdemeanor out-of-county probation violation. Johnson turned himself in today (September 19) at the Sheriff’s Office.

Johnson was wanted in connection with an incident on September 8. 38-year-old Cynthia Nicole Lail and her son, 12-year-old Michael Lail, both of Hickory, were killed as the result of a collision that occurred as Hickory Police pursued a motorcycle driven by Johnson.

Johnson was jailed in the Catawba County Detention Facility with bond set at $85,000. He remained in jail as of this afternoon. A first appearance in District Court is coming up tomorrow in Newton. Another court date on the probation violation was scheduled for September 25. Johnson is on probation as he serves an 18-month suspended sentence following a May 2022 conviction for wanton injury to personal property.