A man who officials said stole a 1991 Nissan Maxima at a Varnell gas station is in a Cleveland, Tenn., jail after leading officers on a chase with speeds topping 120 mph.
Capt. Rick Swiney with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office said Levi Daniel Coats, 24, of Dalton, is charged with auto theft, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane and attempting to elude law officers.
Varnell Police Chief Lyle Grant said officers responded after a woman and her daughter left their car running and unlocked while they went inside the Kangaroo in Varnell. The incident happened between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Wednesday. Grant said Coats got inside the Maxima and took off up Cleveland Highway and into Bradley County, Tenn., where officers there planted “stop sticks” that deflated the tires.
“That caused the car to spin out, and at that time the driver jumped out and ran and eluded officers for a couple of hours until they got a canine in there,” Swiney said. “They located him a couple of hours later.”
Bradley County Sheriff’s deputies found a man walking along Dalton Pike, that sheriff’s office said in a press release. The man’s clothing matched the description given by the Georgia deputies investigating the theft.
Grant said there were two or three other people who pulled up in a vehicle with Coats at the gas station, and officers are reviewing surveillance tapes and other evidence to determine whether to press charges against them.
Coats remained in the Bradley County jail Thursday evening. He is charged there as a fugitive from justice. The sheriff’s office there said he will be held in the jail pending extradition to Whitfield County.
Swiney had said Coats will likely face charges from all three law enforcement agencies.
Local News
September 7, 2012
Stolen car chase leads officers to Tennessee
- Local News
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Tough competition
A seasoned Dalton firefighter placed second in the Toughest Overall Competitor event at the Police and Fire Games in Dalton on Monday.
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