A police pursuit that began in Greene County was ended by a Georgia State Patrol trooper in Taliaferro County on Nov. 19.
Michael DeQuarius Byron, 27, of 104 Maple St., Metter, faces a charge of felony and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, as well as charges of failure to maintain lane and reckless driving. Passenger Samantha Wright, 33, also of Metter, was arrested on an active warrant for probation violation.
According to reports, Deputy Leosbel Sierra observed a white Chevrolet Impala driven by Byron fail to maintain its lane while traveling south on Highway 77 South near the 3900 block.
Sierra followed the vehicle toward Highway 15 South and said he noticed a distinct odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.
Sierra said in his account of the incident that Byron turned south onto Highway 15 South and made an immediate right into the driveway of a residence.
“The vehicle parked and waited for me to drive by then proceeded to turn around and exit the driveway heading north on Highway 15.”
Byron then turned right onto Highway 77 toward I-20. According to the report, Sierra continued to follow the vehicle to identify an impairment pattern.
However, when Sierra got close, the driver turned onto the eastbound ramp on I-20 and accelerated.
Near mile marker 139 eastbound, Sierra tried to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle crossed onto the right lane and slowed down but did not show intentions of coming to a stop.
Sierra activated his emergency equipment at that point and Byron accelerated.
Dispatch was notified of a vehicle pursuit and advised to contact Taliaferro County for assistance.
According to the report, Byron was traveling at speeds above 100 miles per hour when Sgt.
Jordan Knowles joined the pursuit and advised dispatch to notify the Georgia State Patrol.
According to Sierra, a passenger in the vehicle began throwing items out of the front passenger side window near milepost 150.
Near milepost mile marker 151, a GSP Trooper joined the pursuit as the lead vehicle.
The trooper initiated a pit maneuver near milepost 154, striking the vehicle near the rear passenger door and ending the pursuit.
According to the report, Sierra approached the vehicle and both Byron and Wright were arrested. Byron said he had smoked marijuana an hour before the incident and that he knew Wright had an active warrant, which prompted his decision to flee authorities to avoid her incarceration.
Wright and Byron were transported to the Greene County Jail for booking pending further warrants from Taliaferro County.
A search of the locations where the items were thrown out of the vehicle was fruitless.