Morgan County deputies arrested an Augusta man on multiple charges on July 24 after a police pursuit ended when the man’s vehicle struck a tree.
Dennis Charles Murray, 37, faces charges of DUI (alcohol), fleeing or attempting to elude police officers, speeding, reckless driving, failure to obey a stop sign, seatbelt violation, driving while license suspended, and failure to maintain lane.
According to reports, Deputy Patrick Carey was sitting on the eastbound shoulder of I-20 near milepost 106 when he observed a vehicle his radar determined was traveling at 95 mph and then increased to 114 mph.
Carey gave chase along with another deputy, who advised Carey that the vehicle had just passed him and left the interstate at Exit 113. Murray ran the stop sign at the top of the ramp and headed south on Monticello Road.
Carey learned from another deputy that a downed tree was obstructing the road and that the driver of the fleeing car may have left the roadway and ran into the trees. Carey turned around and headed back toward the downed tree
He was able to see taillights from behind the tree line and small trees shaking in the area of the vehicle.
Carey believed this indicated the suspect was attempting to flee, so he drew his sidearm and approached. He found Murray trying to crawl away.
Carey ordered Murray to show his hands and collapsed face down on the ground with his hands under his body.
According to the report, Carey kept Murray at gunpoint and requested EMS to the scene to evaluate injuries Murray may have sustained in the accident
Finally, Murray extended empty hands out to his side, and Carey handcuffed him.
A search of the subject revealed he was wearing a bullet resistant vest and had an empty pistol holster in the waistband of his pants. Murray told Carey he did not know where the gun was and also admitted that his license was not valid. The registration on the vehicle was also suspended.
A search of the vehicle revealed a total of three firearms.
A Georgia State Patrol trooper was then summoned to the scene to evaluate the accident.
Murray was taken to Morgan Medical Center, but Murray refused the blood test and said the law did not apply to him.
When Murray was discharged from MMC, he was taken to the Morgan County jail.