Authorities have released the name and charges against the driver who led police on a chase through several Northeast Georgia counties Friday afternoon.
He’s identified as 31-year old Jeffrey Stewart Thompson of Cleveland, GA. Authorities say Thompson was driving a stolen truck and is wanted on felony warrants in Tennessee.
“We were first given information that the vehicle possibly was wanted in connection with a homicide,” says Clarkesville Police Chief Brad Barrett. The black, Ford Sport Trac pick-up was spotted entering Clarkesville on GA 197 South after an earlier chase through Banks County, Baldwin and Cornelia.
“One of our officers passed him and as soon as he saw the officer he started crossing the double yellow line, passing cars before a stop was even initiated,” says Barrett.
Clarkesville Police Officer Brad Holcomb began pursuing the vehicle and was joined in his pursuit by Habersham County Deputy Scott Lilly.
The chase ran down Washington Street where the suspect turned left onto Hwy. 115. It continued onto SR 284, Duncan Bridge Road and ran past Skitts Mountain Golf Course near Cleveland before turning onto US 129 in southern White County. The chase ended in a pasture on King Street in the Clermont area of Hall County. That’s where the suspect attempted to flee on foot. He was caught by Holcomb and Lilly and arrested.
The 20-mile long chase reached speeds of up to 90 m.p.h.
“We chased it ’til the end,” says Barrett. The investigation is still in its early stages. “Right now we’re not sure if this is going to be the suspect (in the homicide). We don’t know if the information on it is correct, but the truck that was stopped was stolen out of Tennessee, it had a quantity of meth in it and the driver had felony warrants out of Tennessee, but I’m not sure what those are for yet.”
Thompson was transported to the Habersham County jail. He faces a long list of charges including possession of meth with intent to distribute, fleeing or attempting to elude police officers, two counts of theft by receiving stolen property, and a whole host of traffic violations.
The investigation continues.
