Canon man arrested after motorcycle chase ends in Franklin County

A Canon man was recently arrested by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, on August 21, deputies with his office received a call around 2:40 a.m. in reference to threats in the area of Stovall Boulevard in Martin.

According to Shirley, Stephens County 911 Dispatch received a call saying a man arrived with a gun and was making threats to kill the people, including children, inside the residence. Shirley says the male subject did fire his handgun as he was walking around the house before he attempted to enter the residence.

The male subject could hear deputies approaching, prompting him to flee the scene on his motorcycle.

Shirley says the complainant told law enforcement that the incident stemmed from a physical domestic disturbance earlier in the day that had not been reported to law enforcement.

The parties separated themselves, however, as the night progressed and the male subject began drinking more heavily, he showed back up to the residence and began making threats again.

Deputies who were responding to the call intercepted the motorcycle and attempted to stop the fleeing suspect.

Shirley says the driver of the motorcycle continued accelerating before losing control of the motorcycle and laid it over; however, he quickly got back onto the motorcycle and began to flee again, reaching speeds of approximately 90 MPH as he went through downtown Martin.

The driver of the motorcycle lost control once again and crashed at the intersection of Historic Highway 17 and Georgia Highway 17 bypass just inside the Franklin County Line. Deputies were able to get the subject in custody and began rendering aid.

The suspect, identified as Joseph O’Neil Wallace, of Canon, was arrested and transported to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center where he received treatment for his injuries.

The Georgia State Patrol were contacted to assist in working the motorcycle crash.
Joseph Wallace is currently in custody at the Stephens County Jail and was charged with aggravated assault, four counts of cruelty to children in the third degree, battery, fleeing and attempting to elude, driving under the influence, and multiple other traffic charges. Wallace is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.