A Mount Airy man faces dozens of charges after state troopers say he led them on a 3.5-mile chase through Habersham County. Christopher Tenakoun, 34, is charged with 33 counts including DUI, fleeing, drug possession and violating his probation.
According to a report from the Georgia State Patrol, on the night of June 10, troopers from Post 7 in Toccoa tried to pull over a Lexus sedan for having a faulty headlight. The sedan driver, later identified as Tenakoun, fled the attempted traffic stop. Troopers Zachary Pratz and Austin Greer pursued him.
The chase traveled north on Old Cleveland Road to Nicolon Drive where Pratz performed a PIT maneuver to try and stop the sedan. After impact, Tenakoun regained control of the vehicle and changed his direction, driving south on Old Cleveland Road, the report states. The chase reached speeds over 65 miles per hour as it passed through Baldwin into Cornelia on Willingham Avenue.
The troopers ended the chase by conducting three more PIT maneuvers. They stopped Tenakoun in the area of South Main and Wayside Street where TFC Greer took him into custody.
The state patrol says no one was injured in the incident.
At the time of his arrest, Tenakoun was on probation for possession of meth. He now faces additional drug charges in addition to a host of other felonies and misdemeanors filed against him. Those charges include:
probation violation
possession of meth
possession of a controlled substance
aggravated assault
obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers
DUI (alcohol)
fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer
possession of less than 1 oz marijuana
defective tires
failure to maintain lane
wrong side of the road
headlight requirements
possession of drug-related objects
hands-free
passing in a no-passing zone
passing within 200 feet of oncoming traffic
improper passing on hill/curve
reckless driving
unsafe vehicle or equipment
improper/erratic lane change
speeding in excess of maximum limits (state speed and zone limits) too fast for conditions/prima facie speed
failure to signal a lane change or turn
driving within a gore or median
aggressive driving
failure to obey a traffic sign
failure to yield right of way to emergency vehicle
improper u-turn
improper stopping on the roadway
improper starting
laying drags
improper passing
following too closely
Tanakoun currently remains in the Habersham County Detention Center on an $86,600 bond.
