New York woman, allegedly part of theft ring, arrested
A high-speed chase that went through six counties, including Putnam and Morgan, ended Monday evening with an arrest in Greene County, according to authorities.
There were numerous reports in all counties of other drivers being run off the road and at least three deputies’ vehicles were struck, but there were no reported injuries, according to Greene County Sheriff Donnie Harrison, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills and Morgan County Chief Deputy Keith Howard.
The perpetrator, a 33-year-old woman named Chasity Campbell, of Rochester, New York, is part of an organized shoplifting ring, Harrison said.
“She did ram into the rear end of one of my vehicles, so (I’m not happy about that); she’s looking at a laundry list of charges,” Harrison said.
Campbell, 33, was arrested around 4:40 p.m. in Greene County on charges of aggravated assault against Law Enforcement Officer (felony), obstruction of LEO which results in physical harm or injury (felony), fleeing or attempting to elude LEO (felony), criminal interference with government property, speeding 115 mph in 70 mph zone, reckless driving, willful obstruction of LEO (misdemeanor), giving a false name to LEO, driving without a valid license (misdemeanor), failure to obey a traffic signal or light, improper passing and following too closely. Campbell is facing other charges in other counties.
The incident began Monday with complaints of shoplifting at an outlet mall in Locust Grove, Harrison said.
Campbell fled from Locust Grove Police Department officers, and Henry and Butts County sheriff’s deputies joined the pursuit.
The chase went through Henry, Butts and Jasper counties, and Putnam County Sheriff’s Office was notified at 4:13 p.m. to be on the lookout for a 2018 silver Acura MDX headed toward Putnam on Glades Road, Sills said.
A Putnam sheriff’s deputy attempted to set up Stop Sticks where Shady Dale and Glades Road intersect, but the chase had already passed that location when the deputy arrived, the sheriff said.
The chase reportedly continued from Glades onto Godfrey Road to State Route 16 into Eatonton, around the Putnam courthouse square and back onto Hwy. 16 to the Sparta Highway, onto North Wesley Chapel, and then onto State Route 44. Two Eatonton Police Department officers also assisted the other agencies in the chase through Eatonton, Chief Howell Cardwell said.
The hot pursuit went into Greene County, where Greene County deputies joined in. The entourage of law agency vehicles followed the offender along GA-44, where more drivers reportedly were run off the road to escape being hit. The Acura turned onto Interstate 20 west, where it reached speeds of more than 115 mph while also recklessly failing to maintain its lane, according to a report from Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
The chase again crossed another county line and went into Morgan County, where Campbell exited at Seven Islands Road and got back onto I-20 heading east, still traveling recklessly and at high speeds.
At mile marker 140, GCSO Deputy Guy Hewell passed the Acura in order to get ahead of it and deploy some Spike Strips, but when doing so, the Acura struck the rear of Hewell’s patrol vehicle, then struck the driver’s side of a Morgan County Sheriff’s patrol vehicle being driven by deputy Bo Kelley. At that point, GCSO deputy Michael Holloway used a PIT maneuver to stop the Acura successfully.
Campbell immediately got out of the vehicle and placed her hands in the air as Holloway had her at gunpoint and ordered her to the ground, according to the report.
She was placed under arrest around 4:40 p.m. Harrison said some stolen merchandise from Locust Grove was in the Acura, and his office is working with Locust Grove Police Department in the investigation.
T. Michael Stone assisted with this article.