Chase Leads to Two Arrests and Search for Third

A high-speed chase Tuesday night leads to two arrests and the search is on for a third suspect.

It started on I-85 southbound at about 11p Tuesday, according to Georgia State Patrol Hartwell Post Commander Al Whitworth.

“Trooper Fuller of Post 52 was operating radar on I-85 and clocked a vehicle on I-85 going approximately 98 mph,” Whitworth said. “Once the vehicle was pulled over, as the trooper approached, it proceeded to flee the scene. As the vehicle sped down I-85 southbound, it was passing tractor-trailers in the emergency lane. When the suspect passed the weigh station he was doing about 115mph.”

Whitworth said the vehicle got off at Exit 166, then doubled back and tried to get back on the Interstate headed northbound.

“Trooper Fuller was able to execute a PIT maneuver, and both occupants fled the vehicle on foot,” Whitworth said.

At that point, Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies joined in the pursuit.

Sheriff Stevie Thomas says everyone in the vehicle jumped out of the car and ran.

“The trooper gave chase to the driver, but he was not able to catch him,” Thomas said. “The dogs were brought out and the search continued in the heavy rain until around 1a.”

Thomas said meantime his officers were able to locate one of the passengers who was hiding nearby.

“We got a call about a suspicious person behind the Echo,” Thomas said. “We were able to arrest the passenger who was laying out in a field behind the restaurant.”

The search continued overnight for the driver and Thomas said early this morning his officers and Post 52 troopers received word of a suspicious person at the Wilco truck stop off Exit 166.

“As the officer approached the Wilco, he ran out the door,” Thomas explained. “They gave chase around the back of the Wilco. They lost him, and we called the dogs again. While the officers were doing a sweep of wooded area and the buildings and houses directly behind there, one of the officers observed a pickup there in a garage.”

As the officer stepped around the garage he spotted lights on inside the vehicle and the suspect inside.

Thomas said deputies pulled him out of the vehicle and arrested him.

Meantime, Whitworth said investigators are going through the suspects’ vehicle.

“Both occupants were from Greenville, SC and the investigation continues into drug charges and stolen property that may be inside the vehicle,” Whitworth said.

The two suspects names have not yet been released.

They are currently in the Franklin County Detention Center facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, according to Whitworth.

Late this morning, Thomas said after interviewing the suspects’ family they learned there was a third passenger in the car who has not yet been located.

We will have more on this developing story as details become available.