Driver Faces Numerous Charges After Chase in Pickup Truck Reported Stolen

The man who was the subject of a lookout by the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office was arrested after a vehicle pursuit and foot pursuit Monday afternoon, April 1.

Just before 1:55 p.m. Monday, Habersham County Sheriff’s Sgt. Daniel Seeley saw a green 1997 Ford Ranger extended cab pickup that had been reported stolen from the Cornelia area.

At the time he observed the vehicle, it was on Ga. 197 South near the Dollar General store outside Clarkesville. The truck proceeded to the four-way stop at East Louise, turning left onto East Louise Street then left onto West Louise Street (Business Highway 441), traveling in front of El Jinete in Clarkesville headed south.

As it approached Double Bridge Road, the truck turned through the parking lot of a convenience store and then immediately onto Double Bridge Road.

Seeley notified other units he was observing the truck but was not attempting to pull it over until additional units were in the area.

The vehicle continued down Double Bridge Road driving recklessly, running the stop sign at Windy Ridge Drive and continuing toward Ga. 365.

Near Northridge Drive, the truck passed another vehicle in a no passing zone and Seeley attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

The driver failed to yield and turned left onto Ansley Road, failing to stop at the stop sign at Ga. 197 South and almost being struck by another vehicle. 

After turning left onto Ga. 197, the truck immediately turned right onto Hazel Creek Road, with Seeley and a sheriff’s office traffic unit pursuing him.

As the vehicle approached Rudeseal Road and deputies were trying to get into position to conduct a PIT maneuver, the driver slammed on the truck’s brakes then accelerated, attempting to turn left onto Rudeseal Road but traveling across the intersection into the ditch.

The driver then fled on foot and was taken into custody at 2:04 p.m. after taser deployment near a home on Rudeseal Road.

There was no contact between patrol vehicles and the truck, which was taken to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office in Clarkesville for processing.

After medical evaluation, Quinton Lee Batson, 30, of Mt. Airy, was taken to the Habersham County Detention Center for booking.

Batson is being charged by Habersham County Sheriff’s Office investigators with theft by taking motor vehicle and theft by taking. Two gas cans taken from properties on J Warren Road near Cornelia just before noon Monday were found in the back of the truck after the pursuit and have been returned to the owner(s).

Seeley charged Batson with felony fleeing and possession of a controlled substance.

Batson faces numerous charges from the Georgia State Patrol, including driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane, driving on wrong side of the road, driving while license suspended, two counts of stop sign violations, passing in a no passing zone, speeding, reckless driving, failure to use turn signal, improper turn, following too closely, failure to exercise due care, littering, and improper stopping.

“We appreciate the public’s help spreading our lookout on social media and the media’s help with that as well,” said Sheriff Joey Terrell.