High Speed Chase Rolls

Courtesy of the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office

What was first a routine traffic stop quickly turned into a high speed chase on Saturday, February 17, as a driver fled from Toombs County Sheriff’s Deputies through the county before crashing in Treutlen County.

A Toombs County Sheriff’s Deputy first encountered the Ford F-150 when the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle for speeding near the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and Five Points Road. The continued from page

driver of the truck began to accelerate to a high rate of speed upon initiation of the stop, as the vehicle continued along the highway into Emanuel County.

The pursuit continued through the city of Oak Park before ending on Ohoopee Bend Road in Treutlen County, approximately 18 miles from where the deputy first initiated the stop, when the runaway driver lost control and left the roadway, striking a large tree stump which wrecked and disabled the vehicle.

Upon wrecking the vehicle, the driver — who was later identified as Devanta Williams, 40, of Sandersville — fled on foot through a pasture and into a wooded creek area. The deputy pursued Williams on foot and was able to catch up to him. Once having caught up to Williams, law enforcement issued several commands to stop fleeing law enforcement, which were ignored, causing the Deputy to resort to less than lethal use of force by deploying his taser.

The taser successfully stopped Williams from fleeing, and the deputy began to give him verbal commands to place his hands behind his back. The deputy attempted to place Williams in restraints, but Williams began to physically resist the deputy. Thus, for the safety of the deputy and Williams, a second taser deployment was applied to gain control of the suspect.

Once the second taser deployment was completed, Williams began to physically resist the deputy again, and was able to break free. He began running again, until the deputy deployed his taser a third time, successfully stopping Williams. Yet, while the deputy attempted again to place Williams in restraints, he began attacking the deputy. During the attack, Williams stated, “I’m not going back to jail.” The deputy was unable to utilize the taser again because of the attack, and the physical confrontation continued until another Toombs County Deputy arrived and assisted with restraining the suspect.

Deputies had EMS respond to the scene to evaluate Williams due to the wreck and taser deployment. Williams refused to be evaluated at the hospital, but was eventually cleared by EMS personnel. While EMS was evaluating Williams, the deputies conducted a search of the F-150 and discovered a semi-automatic pistol loaded with live ammunition. It was later determined this firearm was stolen from a residence in Jefferson County. Additionally, the Deputies discovered that Williams had outstanding warrants from Laurens and Washington Counties.

The owner of the F150 was determined to be Williams’ mother, who said that Williams had stolen her truck from her residence in Washington County.

Williams was eventually transported to the Toombs County Detention Center, where he was charged with Reckless Driving, Failure to Stop At a Stop Sign (3 counts), Failure to Maintain Lane (3 counts), Speeding (108 mph in a 55 mph zone), Fleeing and Attempting to Elude (Felony), Obstruction (Felony), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Theft by Receiving Stolen Property (Felony). He is being held at the Toombs County Detention Center until being transferred to Laurens or Washington Counties to face his outstanding warrants.