The police chief in Kernersville has been charged after his patrol car hit two handcuffed suspects sitting beside a road earlier this year.

The Winston-Salem Journal reported that Police Chief Ken Gamble was charged Tuesday with failure to slow down to avoid a collision.

Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill said police officers have an obligation to obey traffic laws once a chase is over.

Town Manager Curtis Swisher said Gamble would not contest the charge. Swisher said Gamble will have to complete a precision driving course.

Gamble had responded to a call for assistance on July 15 but the two suspects had been arrested by the time he arrived. Gamble was driving about 20 mph when the suspects were hit.