Chase Leads To Arrests

A Stephens County man faces numerous charges after a high-speed chase last week in Stephens County.

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, it happened early in the morning hours of December 17.

Shirley said deputies spotted a vehicle driven by 24-year-old Joshua Drake of Hayes-Wilbanks Road in the Wal-Mart parking lot around 1:45 a.m. that morning.

The sheriff said Drake was wanted on felony charges and deputies approached the vehicle.

“As deputies approached the black Ford Mustang, the individual accelerated at a high rate of speed out of the parking lot,” said Shirley. “Deputies were in pursuit and turned onto Highway 17 south. They reached speeds of 100 miles per hour.”

Shirley said at that point, the Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Georgia State Patrol.

“As they were approaching Crown Resources and Hayes-Wilbanks Road, the vehicles (GSP’s and suspect’s) struck each other and the suspect’s vehicle went through the parking lot, jumped a large embankment and landed in a field,” said Shirley.

The sheriff said that Drake then took off on foot and authorities called in the K-9 unit from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office.

“The K-9 was able to locate the individual not far from the vehicle, in a wooded area,” said Shirley. “The individual would not comply with the command to not move and the K-9 bit the suspect.”

The suspect then complied and was arrested without incident, said the sheriff, and he was checked out because of the dog bite.

Shirley said the suspect was fine.

Shirley said Drake was charged with no insurance on vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, leaving the scene of an accident, driving while license withdrawn, speeding in a construction zone, reckless driving, two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, possession of drug related objects, and a felony probation violation.

At last report, Drake remained in the Stephens County Jail due to the felony probation violation.

Meanwhile, Shirley said a passenger in the vehicle, 19-year-old Hazel Murray of Collins Road in Toccoa, was charged with possession of drug related objects and possession of marijuana less than one ounce.

She was released on a $1,500 bond.

Shirley says he appreciates the assistance of the GSP, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, and Toccoa Police Deaprtment during the chase.