From STAFF REPORTS
VIENNA —A Lincoln Street man is behind bars in Dooly County after racking up numerous charges during a chase that involved officers from both the Vienna Police Department and the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office.
Police Chief Jamey Reed identified the suspect as 22 year-old Chartavious Thomas. He has been charged with fleeing and attempting to elude an officer, speeding (60 mph in a 25mph zone), driving on a suspended license (3rd offense in 5 years), reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, and numerous stop sign violations.
Just before 9 a.m. Wednesday, Reed said Police Officer George W. Royal attempted to stop a burgundy Ford Crown Victoria that appeared to be speeding in the area of East Pine and Keaton Streets.
When the officer turned on his blue lights, he reported that the driver of the Crown Victoria sped away, traveling east on Pine St. in the direction of the BIG PIG JIG site.
Royal radioed for assistance, continually providing updates on his location and status. Reed joined the pursuit as it entered the historic district of downtown Vienna on Union Street.
The chief said the suspect disregarded numerous stop signs as he continued to drive through residential areas at a high rate of speed with no apparent thought to public safety.
Reed then began to parallel the chase in an attempt to get ahead of the suspect and deploy stop sticks. At that point, Royal, recognizing the danger posed to the public by the fleeing suspect began to disengage from the pursuit.
When the suspect turned south onto 9th Street, Officer Royal lost sight of the vehicle, but within minutes, deputies from the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office converged on the area to assist.
Shortly afterward, however, Royal spotted the car parked behind a residence on St. Mary’s Street. Contact was made with the resident who was unaware that the vehicle was sitting behind the home.
A check of the license plate revealed the registered owner of the vehicle as a man, whom officers remembered shared a home with his girlfriend just a few houses down.
Reed said the officers then went to the residence at 808 Lincoln Street and found the subject hiding in a back room. He was taken into custody without further incident.
“I want to commend the actions of Officer Royal during the pursuit,” said Reed. “He stayed calm and collected the entire time. He used due regard and proper judgment to ensure public safety first and foremost.”
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