Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Carjacker arrested in Riverdale after chaseBy LEE WILLIAMS A Texas man who allegedly tried to pump illicit drugs into the streets of Fayette County and carjack three vehicles at a busy intersection in Riverdale learned an invaluable lesson Monday: You cant outrun the law, especially when youve got a swarm of Fayette County sheriffs deputies, drug agents and a Hawk One helicopter tracking your every move. Anthony Jarreau Franklin, 21, of Dallas, Texas, is the alleged drug dealer who led authorities on a brief pursuit about 2:45 p.m. Monday. He was nabbed after he crossed a multi-lane intersection at Ga. Highways 138 and 85 in Riverdale. Franklin, who was wanted out of Texas at the time of the chase, now faces a number of charges in the Peach State including possession of marijuana with an intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, fleeing and attempting to elude police and aggressive driving. More charges could follow, Fayette County Sheriffs Department spokeswoman Lt. Belinda McCastle said. The chase began after drug agents from the Fayette County Drug Suppression Task Force moved in to arrest Franklin at Citgo on Ga. highways 314 and 138, task force group leader Capt. Mike Pruitt said. We were doing a dope deal at the other intersection, said Pruitt, motioning behind him while the suspect with cornrows and a white sports jersey wiggled in the back of a Fayette County patrol car Monday afternoon. A panicked Franklin drove his silver Dodge Neon down an embankment and back up, and fled eastbound on Hwy. 138. Agents, armed with the Hawk One helicopter, took off after him. The vehicle pursuit came to a screeching halt as Franklins vehicle slammed into the rear of a white Buick LeSabre driven by Judy Patton, 39, of Alabama. Patton was northbound on Ga. Highway 85 and was attempting to turn left, Georgia State Patrol spokesman Trooper First Class Larry Schnall indicated. But Franklin refused to give up, authorities said. Motorists, however, had no choice but to stop in their tracks. Highways 138 and 85 were transformed into a virtual parking lot, as Clayton County police, Clayton County sheriffs deputies, Riverdale police, and Georgia State Patrol responded to the scene. After he wrecked, he jumped out and tried to carjack three cars, Pruitt said. He had one guy pulled half way out of his car fighting with him. The pilot in Hawk One witnessed the action from above. Hawk One was very instrumental in keeping sight of the vehicle and the suspect, McCastle said. The victims left the scene and authorities want them to step forward. We want the three victims involved in the attempted carjackings to call Jody Thomas at the Fayette County Sheriffs Department at 770-461-6353, McCastle said. Franklin continued to run from authorities, but his efforts were futile. As the suspect further attempted to elude police, agents subdued him after he crossed six lanes of traffic, McCastle said. Authorities confiscated a pound of marijuana with an estimated street value of $600 to $800 and a 40-caliber Glock handgun from Franklins vehicle, authorities said. Franklin received a broken wrist and several superficial wounds during the incident. He was taken to Piedmont Fayette Hospital for treatment. Patton also received minor injuries in the crash, officials said. |
|
Copyright 2004-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |