Authorities charged a Gainesville man with two felonies after they say he led White County deputies on a high-speed chase Saturday night.
Captain Clay Hammond of the White County Sheriff’s Office said that on March 8 at 7:19 p.m., deputies attempted to stop a white Pontiac G6 traveling eastbound on Hwy 115 East near Pless Road. The driver, later identified as 33-year-old William Mosquere-Contraras, failed to stop, and a pursuit began, Hammond said.
The pursuit traveled east on Hwy. 115 through Cleveland. It ended when deputies performed a PIT maneuver on the fleeing vehicle near the Appalachian Parkway, west of town. The Pontiac ran off the road, and Hammond said Mosquere-Contraras fled on foot for a short distance before deputies apprehended him in the woods.
Authorities charged Mosquere-Contraras with multiple misdemeanors, including DUI, open container, reckless driving, use of license plate with the intent to conceal, seatbelt violation, failure to obey traffic control device, failure to maintain lane, driving without a valid license, suspended and expired registration, speeding, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. In addition, he’s charged with second-degree forgery and fleeing or attempting to elude, which are both felonies.
Deputies booked Mosquere-Contraras in the White County Detention Center, where he remained as of Monday, March 10.
