Eatonton Police Department continues its work to keep dangerous drivers off the city’s streets. Last week, with assistance from Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies, the Eatonton police captured one and thus stopped his “occupation of hoodlumism,” according to Sheriff Howard Sills.
When a driver speeding at more than 80 mph went by, EPD Officer Sgt. Howard Clemons on the Eatonton Bypass Oct. 7, Clemons intervened. According to the officer's report, a woman and a small child were passengers in the car.
Clemons’ radar clocked the red Ford Focus going 83 mph, so he pulled the car over in the westbound lanes of State Route 24/U.S. Hwy—441 at the intersection of State Route 16. As Clemons got out of his patrol vehicle, the car sped away. Its driver, later identified as John David Lewis, turned onto the Gray Highway and continued at more than 80 mph with Clemons close behind with blue lights flashing and sirens blaring.
Lewis turned onto River Oak Drive, pulled into someone’s yard, and jumped and ran away, Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell said.
Clemons reportedly remained with the car and its passengers while other law enforcement officers chased Lewis on foot, but they lost him when he crossed Little River, according to Cardwell. The woman in the car told Clemons she kept trying to get Lewis to stop, but he wouldn’t.
A K-9 unit was brought in from the Jones County Sheriff’s Office to aid in the search for Lewis. However, it could not find the fugitive.
Later in the afternoon, however, a resident on River Oak Drive called and said they saw Lewis go through their yard, according to Sills. Cardwell said that PCSO deputies soon arrived at the 100 block of River Oak Drive, where Deputy Lt. Harry Luke saw movement in the woods and talked Lewis into surrendering.
“Harry talked him out of the woods, and he came out wearing nothing but boxers and socks, with many scratches on him from the briers,” Sills added. “He has an extraordinary criminal record with many, multiple prior convictions. He was released from prison early and resumed his normal occupation of hoodlumism and endangering people’s lives.”
John David Lewis, 34, of Eatonton, a.k.a. “Donkey” or “Donk,” was arrested Oct. 7 on charges of felony parole violation, felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, misdemeanor driving while license suspended or revoked, misdemeanor obstruction of law enforcement officers, misdemeanor speeding 83/55, and misdemeanor reckless driving.
“I appreciate Putnam County Sheriff’s Office’s help in this case as well as Jones County Sheriff’s Office,” Cardwell said. “I am thankful for their dedication to working together with us to keep crime out of our city and county.”