Friday, March 14, 2003

County copter helps deputies get their man

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Hawk 1, the Fayette County Sheriff's Department's helicopter unit, paid off big Thursday afternoon in the apprehension of a man driving a suspected stolen vehicle who led deputies on a chase into Atlanta.

The pursuit began on Ga. Highway 279 north in Fayette County when a deputy tried to pull over the car for not having a tag, said Maj. Bruce Jordan of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department. The chase then went to Flat Shoals Road, Ga. Highway 85 and then Interstate 75.

The pursuit then hit I-285 and that's when Hawk 1 got on the scene. That's also when the sheriff's patrol cars were out of Fayette County's radio range.

As the chase continued northbound on Moreland Avenue, the suspect "bootlegged" on the pursuing vehicles, spinning out to head back southbound in an attempt to dodge the pursuing vehicles.

But as the suspect turned around, Hawk 1 notified the second wave of deputies so they could plan to intercept the vehicle, Jordan said.

Deputies were able to use the "pit" maneuver to strike the suspect's vehicle to disable it, Jordan said.

The suspect, identified as Jamal Nash, 21, faces charges of fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer and possible stolen vehicle charges, Jordan said.

"It didn't have a tag on it and he couldn't tell us where he got it from," Jordan said.


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