An Augusta man was arrested on more than a dozen charges on June 23 after he fled from Morgan County deputies trying to conduct a traffic stop on his vehicle.
According to reports, Michael McGahee, 32, faces charges of speeding, driving with a suspended license, aggressive driving, reckless driving, DUI (marijuana), operating a vehicle in the emergency lane, failure to maintain lane, felony attempting to elude a police officer, giving a false name and date of birth to a police officer, possession of marijuana (less than 1 ounce), theft by receiving stolen property, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of Schedule II drugs with intent to distribute.
According to the incident report, Deputy Patrick Carey was stationary near milepost 109 as part of a traffic enforcement detail when he was contacted by Captain Brandon Sellers and told that a black Toyota Camry had been clocked traveling at near 90 mph and was heading in his direction.
Carey soon spotted the Camry and tried to initiate a traffic stop.
The Camry pulled to the side of the road near milepost 109.5, according to the deputy’s report and as Carey approached the vehicle, he said he could smell the odor of raw marijuana coming from it.
The driver told Carey his name was Marcus Solomon, and he disputed Carey’s reason for the stop by claiming his cruise control was set at 70 mph.
Carey did a records check which revealed the Camry was a rental and learned the driver’s name was Michael McGahee and that his license was suspended.
Carey asked for another unit, and Deputy Bo Kelly soon arrived at the scene.
But when Carey approached the vehicle to take McGahee into custody on the suspended license charge and continue his investigation, McGahee fled the scene in the Camry.
Carey pursued McGahee’s Camry eastbound on I-20 and saw the vehicle cross into the left emergency lane and into the grass of the median before swerving abruptly to the right in order to leave the interstate at the Monticello Road exit.
McGahee headed south toward Jasper County while more deputies joined the pursuit. However, McGahee passed several vehicles in no-passing zones and was able to gain distance on the pursuers.
Carey said he lost sight of the Camry, but dispatch received information that McGahee had turned onto a dirt road.
Believing McGahee was unfamiliar with the area, Carey thought he would double back and try to get back on the interstate, which is exactly what he did.
Sergeant Jeremy Thrash spotted McGahee headed north on Hwy 83 a few moments later and the Camry returned to the eastbound lanes of the interstate.
The chase continued into Greene County where units from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit. McGahee made it all the way into Taliaferro County and the Crawfordville exit before he struck a curb, which caused both right-side tires to go flat.
A search of McGahee’s vehicle revealed two pistols (one of which had been reported stolen), a plastic bag containing marijuana, a plastic bottle containing suspected Phenergan and codeine syrup.
A criminal history revealed that McGahee was a convicted felon and had an active arrest warrant issued by Richmond County.