2 car theft suspects ram gate at Coast Guard base

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Police say two men in a stolen car rammed through the gate at the Coast Guard base in downtown Charleston after officers tried to pull them over.

Authorities said the men were found hiding under a dock at the base after dozens of officers joined dog tracking teams and a helicopter in a two-hour search.

Police say the incident began as a traffic stop after an officer noticed the car had been reported stolen from Lexington County.

Investigators say 22-year-old Christopher Coward is charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and failure to stop for a blue light and 20-year-old James Deese is charged with unlawful possession of a handgun. It wasn’t clear if they had attorneys.