A Demorest man is in jail after police say he fled from a traffic stop, backed into a patrol car, then pulled his pants down while fleeing on foot. Demorest Police Officer John Groves recounted the bizarre encounter in a report filed following the alleged incident on Thursday, April 28.
Groves was patrolling Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway when he says he clocked a Ford Mustang traveling east at 73 mph in a 45 mph zone. When Groves attempted to stop the vehicle, he says the driver ignored his emergency lights and siren and fled down a series of side streets.
During the approximate two-mile chase, the suspect car nearly crashed into another vehicle, the incident report states.
“The car then turned onto Wren Drive and improperly stopped in the roadway, began backing at a high rate of speed, and rammed the front of my patrol vehicle,” writes Groves. After impact, the officer pulled his patrol car directly behind the Mustang to prevent the driver from fleeing.
After initially complying with Officer Groves’ commands to show his hands, Groves says the man showed more than that. He exited the Mustang and “began pulling his pants down” in an apparent attempt to moon the officer as he walked away.
When the suspect, later identified as Alan Glenn Umbehant, again refused his commands to stop, Groves says he deployed his taser and took Umbehant into custody.
Police charged the 61-year-old Umbehant with multiple counts including two felonies for aggravated assault on a police officer and fleeing. They also charged him with eight misdemeanors including obstruction, reckless driving, speeding, and other traffic violations.
The collision pushed in the front bumper of the patrol car causing about $2,500 in damage, says Demorest Police Chief Robin Krockum. Officer Groves was not injured in the incident. After Umbehant was checked by medics at the scene, deputies booked him at the Habersham County Detention Center. As of Monday afternoon, May 2, he remained in jail on a $40,900 bond.
