Two Arrested After High-speed Chase

Alecia Charpling age 35 David Charpling age 41A high-speed chase through Lavonia Monday ended in a wreck and an arrest near Carnesville.

It happened around noon Monday.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas, it began when deputies tried to pull over a white Honda Accord in Lavonia for a traffic stop.

“They attempted to stop a 1993 Honda Accord on SR17 in Lavonia that possibly had a stolen tag,” Thomas. “The vehicle refused to stop and a chase ensued. Lavonia Police tried to stop the vehicle using stop sticks but the driver turned down Roberts St. and then onto Highway 59 headed towards Carnesville.”

Thomas said the chase continued down Highway 59 towards the Franklin County Middle School, but then deputies noticed something that made them back off.

“The driver was driving very recklessly and deputies saw a small child in the back seat. So, the deputies backed off hoping the driver would slow down,” Thomas said.

But he did not slow down. So, Thomas said deputies set up stop sticks near Brown Road on Highway 59, but the driver swerved off the highway.

“Several deputies and a Georgia State Patrol unit attempted to set up stop sticks near the Franklin County Middle School on Highway 59,” he said. “The driver saw the patrol vehicles and turned into a driveway, wrecked his vehicle and fled on foot into the woods into a swamp area.”

Thomas said deputies chased the suspect and eventually captured him along with a female passenger.  Deputies were able to get the child who was located in the swamp.

The driver is identified as David Eugene Charpling, 41 of Covington, GA.  The passenger is identified as Charpling’s wife, Alecia LeAnn Charpling, 35 also of Covington.

Thomas said Charpling and his wife face multiple charges.

“The driver is charged with DUI, driving without a license, stolen tag, endangering the welfare of a child, suspended license, reckless driving, leading police. The Department of Family and Children Services called the Sheriff’s Department to take care of the child until family members could come and pick the child up.”

Both are being held in the Franklin County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.