Time spent in jail can provide the initiative to avoid future incarceration. But that was not the case for 31-year-old Forest Park resident Manuel DeJesus Leyva, who spent years in jail on a Fayette County armed robbery conviction, only to be arrested May 16 by Fayette Drug Task Force (DTF) undercover agents after he fled Fayette Pavilion in what was to be a drug transaction involving methamphetamine.

Leyva had been released from jail in August 2007 for the Fayette County armed robbery.

Leyva was charged with criminal intent to distribute methamphetamine, fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving and numerous traffic related offenses, said Fayette DTF Lt. Jody Thomas.

Leyva was released from Muscogee County Correction Institute in August 2007, having served time since January 1999 on a 10-year maximum sentence for the armed robbery conviction, according to Georgia Dept. of Corrections. He also served time during the same period for a Fayette County theft by taking conviction.

Leyva was apprehended just before noon May 16 on Huntington Court after fleeing undercover Drug Task Force (DTF) agents during a buy-bust involving methamphetamine at nearby Fayette Pavilion.

The incident began at approximately 11:30 a.m. in the Petsmart parking lot at Fayette Pavilion as agents were negotiating the drug transaction with Leyva, Thomas said, when he unexpectedly fled.

Leyva, with a passenger inside the vehicle, sped south through the parking lot, entering and circling through the parking lot of Wachovia Bank and heading back past Petsmart and onto Ga. Highway 85 driving south, said Thomas. Patrons were in the bank parking lot at the time but were not harmed, Thomas said, adding that the passenger in Leyva’s vehicle was also trying to exit the vehicle but was unable to do so.

Leyva turned left onto Pine Trail a short distance away and then took a quick right onto Huntington Court, followed by agents, uniform officers from Fayetteville, Fayette Sheriff’s Office and the Hawk 1 helicopter overhead.

The chase ended abruptly when the street came to a dead end and officers surrounded Leyva’s red Hyundai. Leyva resisted arrest but was quickly taken into custody, Thomas said.

An investigation at the scene revealed that Leyva had swallowed two bags of suspected methamphetamine, weighing approximately four grams, prior to being taken into custody, said Thomas. Leyva was transported to Piedmont Fayette Hospital as a safety precaution, Thomas said.

The passenger in Leyva’s vehicle was not charged.

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