Lee, 27, spun out and got stuck on the side of the road in the snow, Sheriff Coy Reid said. The people trying to help him could tell he was intoxicated and decided to call the authorities instead of pushing his car out, Reid said.
Catawba County sheriff Coy Reid told North Carolina gay newspaper QNotes that he estimated 1,400-1,600 people attended the event, held at the countys Government and Justice Center. The protest was originally scheduled for the church grounds but was moved to accommodate the expected large crowd.