A vehicle pursuit that began in White County ended in Baldwin on Monday night, November 18, after officers arrested a Dahlonega man. The incident unfolded around 9:30 p.m. when White County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to pull over a vehicle for having non-functional taillights.
The driver, later identified as Ryan Hart, 25, of Dahlonega, refused to stop and fled southbound on Duncan Bridge Road. As the pursuit entered Baldwin city limits, a Baldwin Police Department officer intercepted the suspect vehicle at the intersection of Duncan Bridge Road and GA 365. Hart attempted to make a left turn into the northbound lanes of GA 365 but lost control of his vehicle.
The suspect’s vehicle veered off the roadway, traveling on the east shoulder. A Baldwin police officer attempted to pin the vehicle on the shoulder to prevent it from re-entering the highway.
However, during the maneuver, the patrol vehicle slid through the grass, striking the passenger side of the suspect’s vehicle, effectively terminating the chase. No injuries were reported during the incident.
Hart was taken into custody and charged by Baldwin Police Department with multiple offenses, including fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug-related objects, failure to maintain lane, improper passing, driving too fast for conditions, driving with a suspended license, and no valid insurance.
Following the arrest, Hart was transported to the White County Detention Center, where White County Sheriff’s deputies booked him on additional charges. These included manufacturing, selling, or distributing identification documents with trademarks, speeding, suspended registration, tag light violations, and operating the vehicle without working brake lights or turn signals. His bond was set at $9,500.
