Listen: Officer Struck Twice in Chase
Police say a fleeing driver sideswiped an officer's patrol car, which the officer later used to stop the suspect's car.
Updated 2 p.m.
Reports released by police detail their pursuit of Jonathan Ray Adams, 24, of East Rocky Street in White, who was arrested and charged in connection with the 7:30 p.m. chase. He faces multiple counts of 14 different alleged criminal offenses or traffic violations.
The officer said in the report he noticed Adams' Ford Windstar sit at the Mack's Marathon gas pumps for 30 minutes, but neither occupant pumped gas. The female passenger only went in and out of the store several times in what the officer reported is an area known for illegal drug activity.
Adams' alleged flee included sliding his vehicle sideways, almost hitting another car, and sliding across lanes of traffic before leading police on a chase around the area.
He allegely opted to flee by foot in the area of Tractor Supply, leaving his passenger, a female juvenile, on the side of the road.
Authorities say Adams also didn't take the time to stop his van. Left in gear and running, it traveled through the gore, leading an officer to block its path with the police car that had already been sideswiped by the van.
Adams allegedly gave officers problems during booking procedures, as an officer details in the report attached in .pdf files. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on an officer, two counts of hit-and-run with injuries, reckless conduct and endangerment of a minor, open container and driving while license withdrawn, in addition to a number of traffic violations.
Original Report
A Cartersville police officer in his patrol car was "slightly" injured during a Monday police chase that ended with the fleeing vehicle twice striking the police car, Lt. Mark Camp said.
It began at a convenience store at Tennessee and Felton streets and continued north on U.S. 411 to Tractor Supply, where officers reported the driver had "rammed" a police car.
The officer, who said, "I got hit two times," according to police scanner traffic provided by Bartow Scanner, was taken to Cartersville Medical Center, treated for a possible concussion and released, Camp said.
Camp said the man—who first ran from an attempted traffic stop—jumped from his car to flee on foot, but left the car in gear and running. The car traveled into the gore, prompting the officer the pull his patrol car in its path.
Authorities say the move prevented the unmanned car from heading into oncoming traffic and maybe head-on crashes with two oncoming vehicles.
A woman in the suspect's car complained of injuries, but none were found when she was taken to CMC.
JSE
8:22 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
I would like to have a word or two with Mr. Adams...I was beginning to turn from HWY 20 with 3 children in my car. The car in front of me was driven by a expectant other (7 months along) and her husband. Her car was a Green Honda Accord which sustained front end damage when he blew threw the intersection going at least 80-90 mph. If he had hit either one of our cars full force (head-on or t-bone) we would have died. I'm a school teacher and I see his type everyday- whose world view insists that the world owes him something. I would do anything to keep this scum bag off the street forever. Maybe if he got his head-on straight he could visit my school and speak some sense into a select group of misguided kids. He made a choice to take a visit to the Police Station so he has no right to complain about the room, the cuffs, his injured foot or how he is being treated. By the way, if given 2 more seconds he would have slammed into the side of my car and my wife would have lost her husband, a 11 year old daughter, our friend's 10 year old daughter, and a son. MR. ADAMS owes society an apology and needs to get help for whatever vise is controlling his life.
Kelly
2:45 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Amen!!! Very well said! I see all kinds of idiots that should not drive or be allowed out in public!! I also hear more things than you can imagine since I have a scanner!
Aimee Harmon
11:58 am on Thursday, May 3, 2012
JSE - very well said.