HALL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE NARRATIVE:
“A Charlotte, NC man remains in the Hall County Jail following a weekend vehicle pursuit on I-985.
Just before 11:30 p.m. Friday, October 6, 2023, Hall County Dispatch was advised by the Gwinnett County Police Department that a driver in a 2012 Porsche Panamera had fled from a traffic stop in their jurisdiction and was last seen on I-985 northbound entering Hall County. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Austin James Lange, 29, was wanted on an aggravated assault warrant out of Florida.
Less than five minutes after dispatchers advised our patrol deputies of the incident, a Hall County deputy spotted the vehicle in question on I-985 northbound. He pulled behind the Porsche and attempted to make a traffic stop using lights and siren, but the driver fled, accelerating to speeds up to 125 mph. The deputy continued to pursue the Porsche until the driver lost control of the vehicle just north of Exit 22 and spun out in the grass media of the highway.
The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot from the scene. K9 teams from both the Hall County Sheriff’s Office and the Gainesville Police Department responded to the scene to track the suspect. With additional assistance from Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Air, authorities were able to locate the suspect and arrest him.
HCSO charged Lange with felony fleeing, DUI drugs, speeding, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, improper lane change and driving on a suspended license. Lange faces additional charges in Gwinnett County as well as the charge out of Florida.”