A Morgan County deputy attempting to make a traffic stop for a seatbelt violation on April 16 wound up pursuing two suspects heading in different directions.
According to reports, Deputy Hanna Rickey was on patrol near Amtico Road when she observed the driver and passenger of a Nissan Maxima not wearing seat belts while traveling southbound on Eatonton Road.
When she attempted to make a traffic stop, the driver, later identified as 23-year-old Nakarien Rashad Dumas of North Charleston, S.C., turned right into the Wendy’s parking lot and continued onto Amtico Road before turning left into the Cracker Barrel parking lot.
The Nissan came to a stop in the Quality Inn parking lot, where Dumas fled the scene on foot toward the woods.
While Rickey was trying to determine which way Dumas ran, the passenger, later identified as Samurica Ferrell, jumped into the driver’s seat and tried to flee in the vehicle.
According to the report, Ferrell circled the Quality Inn with Rickey in pursuit before giving up and stopping.
Ferrell was placed in custody and given her Miranda warning, but she refused to provide any information about Dumas.
While searching the vehicle, Rickey found a debit card with Dumas’ name on it in a black bag.
According to the report, Dumas had active warrants out of Baldwin and Wilkes counties and was also on probation.
Ferrell was taken to the Morgan County jail, while deputies continued to look for Dumas. He was found hiding behind the Ag-Pro building on Lions Club Road near the intersection with Fairground Road.
Rickey caught up with the other deputies and then transported Dumas to jail.
Both Dumas and Ferrell were charged with obstruction of law enforcement officers and cited for failing to wear seat belts.