A concerned motorist called Eatonton police last week about an erratic driver. Authorities say the driver is now facing a multitude of charges and being held in jail without bond.
Shane Gerald Prather, 45, of Victoria Lane, Eatonton, was arrested Oct. 2 and charged with three felony counts and one misdemeanor count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, three misdemeanor counts of willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer, speeding 100 in a 55 mph zone, speeding 110 in a 55 mph zone, two counts driving on the wrong side of the road, DUI-alcohol, open container in vehicle, two counts reckless driving, improper passing, passing in a no passing zone, failure to maintain lane, failure to drive within a single lane, failure to stop at a stop sign, failure to obey traffic control device, duty upon striking fixture, and probation violation.
Eatonton Police Officer Sgt. Howard Clemons heard the BOLO for the red 2010 Chevrolet HHR. He saw it on East Sumter Street and had the driver, later identified as Prather, pull over in the Dollar General store parking lot, Cardwell said. After talking with the driver, Clemons requested EPD Officer Chris Detweiler do a field sobriety test.
In his report, Detweiler said, “Shane stated that he no longer drinks alcohol and had not been drinking. While speaking to Shane, I could detect a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person, and Shane’s speech was slurred.”
Noting that Prather was leaning against the Chevrolet’s driver door, Detweiler reportedly asked him to step away from the vehicle and stand up straight with his feet together.
“He complied and began to immediately sway from side to side while attempting to keep his balance,” Detweiler wrote in his report.
After failing to complete several other aspects of the standardized field sobriety test, Prather said he’d rather take a breath test.
So, Detweiler went to the trunk of his patrol vehicle to retrieve the breathalyzer. As he did so, Prather jumped into his Chevrolet and sped off, heading west on Sumter Street toward North Jefferson Avenue “at a high rate of speed,” according to Detweiler’s report.
Clemons and Detweiler followed in their vehicles and began chasing Prather, who reportedly sped away by using the center turn lane of North Jefferson. As they approached Imperial Mill Road, Prather crashed into a utility pole, put his SUV in reverse, drove through a ditch onto Imperial Mill Road, and continued his attempt to get away.
On Imperial Mill Road, Prather reportedly reached speeds of 85 mph, slammed on brakes at the U.S. Hwy. 441 intersection, crossed over the highway, and continued on Imperial Mill Road. With the officers still in pursuit, Prather turned onto Old Godfrey Highway and then Godfrey Road, driving recklessly at high speeds. As the chase continued on Godfrey Road, Detweiler reported that Prather continued to drive recklessly and drove on the wrong side of the road even when there was oncoming traffic.
When the speeds reached 110 mph, Chief Cardwell called off the chase for the safety of all involved, including other motorists.
“Once my emergency lights and sirens were deactivated, Shane changed his driving pattern to a much more manageable speed,” Detweiler reported.
The police officer lost sight of Prather’s vehicle, but minutes later, Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Justin Brock spotted it and began another pursuit, traveling eastbound on Hwy. 142 towards Hwy. 16.
PCSO Sgt. James Barbee set up Stop Stick spikes, which deflated one of the Chevrolet HHR’s tires on the front driver’s side.
Prather did not give up and continued at a slower speed on Hwy. 441, turned onto Church Street and into the yard of a residence.
In the residential yard, Prather crashed his car into a pile of wooden posts that were on the ground, at which time Deputy Scott Owens pinned Prather’s car with his patrol car. Prather reportedly got out of his car and attempted to run but only went approximately 10 yards before he fell to the ground and was taken into custody.
“While en route to the Eatonton Police Department, Shane expressed no concern for his actions and bragged that he would be out of jail very soon,” Detweiler’s report reveals. “Shane also stated he did have fun being pursued at high speeds.”
When they arrived at the police department, Prather reportedly became hostile and did not cooperate with the arresting process.
Submitted into evidence was a black plastic bag that reportedly had been removed from Prather’s car before he fled from the Dollar General Parking lot.
The bag contained one Fireball whiskey bottle, three full Blue Raspberry Wave bottles, and one Blue Raspberry Wave bottle that had been opened and contained a small amount of beverage still inside.