State troopers arrest Macon teen following stolen car chase
Jan. 4—A Macon-Bibb County teen was arrested on criminal charges recently following a high-speed chase in Baldwin County, local and state authorities say.
The chase, which happened Dec. 29 shortly after 7:30 p.m., got to speeds of more than 100 mph.
It all ended when the suspect crashed the car, tried to run away on foot, but was tackled by a state trooper, who managed to retrieve a gun from the hands of the teen.
No one was injured during the chase which began after Cpl. Kevin Kirby of the Georgia State Patrol post in Milledgeville received a notification via the road camera that a stolen car was entering Baldwin County on Ga. Route 49.
The car was described as a silver 2013 Ford Fusion.
Kirby and Trooper Willie Stephens responded to the area where the car last was seen traveling, according to an email sent to The Union-Recorder regarding the chase.
Once the troopers got to the area, they learned that a deputy with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office spotted the stolen car near the intersection of Ga. Route 49 and McCullar Weaver Road, and attempted a traffic stop.
The driver of the stolen car, later identified as Fabian Johnson, 17, refused to stop, which initiated the chase between the deputy and state troopers.
When the chase neared the intersection of Ga. Route 49 and Allen Memorial Drive, Kirby became the lead law enforcement officer.
"The driver of the stolen vehicle was driving in a reckless manner at speeds exceeding 100 mph," Kirby said in the email. "The pursuit continued east across the bypass and onto Hancock Street."
In that area, the driver continued driving at speeds greater than 100 mph as well as on the wrong side of the roadway, Kirby said.
"As the pursuit approached the middle of downtown, (I) performed a successful PIT maneuver near the intersection of Hancock and Columbia streets," Kirby said.
The stolen car spun across the street and then overturned.
Kirby's patrol car, meanwhile, left the roadway and struck a sign as well as a few trees along the shoulder of the roadway.
Johnson attempted to run away from authorities. Deputies subsequently deployed Tasers in an attempt to keep the suspect from running away, but he continued running, Kirby said.
Later, Stephens managed to tackle Johnson to the ground and removed a gun the teen was holding in his hands, Kirby said.
After his arrest, Johnson was taken to the Baldwin County Law Enforcement Center and jailed.
Kirby said Johnson was charged with felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving, driving while unlicensed, and driving under the influence of drugs.
In addition, Johnson also faces additional charges from deputies with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office for being in possession of a stolen car, possession of a gun, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer in connection with the foot chase.
