A 72-year-old Atlanta man remains in the Hall County Jail following his arrest last week on DUI and other traffic charges after leading sheriff’s deputies on a slow-speed chase that covered several roads. Details of the Thursday incident were not available until Monday.
HCSO NARRATIVE:
“…around 9:10 p.m., Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) patrol deputies were notified by dispatch that a black Dodge Charger was traveling southbound on Cornelia Highway (SR 365) near White Sulphur Road, veering from one side of the highway to the next at 25-30 mph.
A deputy, who was on patrol in the area, observed the vehicle and witnessed the driver fail to maintain his lane of travel multiple times. A second deputy joined the other and then followed the vehicle, both with their emergency lights and sirens activated, as it took the Exit 20 off ramp from the highway onto Candler Road eastbound.
The driver, later identified as Clarence Lloyd Murray III, refused to stop and evaded deputies by turning right onto Professional Parkway. He then made a U-turn, traveled back to Candler Highway and drove a short distance to the parking lot of a Waffle House restaurant where he pulled into a parking space. An HCSO H.E.A.T. Unit deputy, who had joined the pursuit, pulled directly behind Mr. Murray’s vehicle to prevent the offender from leaving the scene.
Mr. Murray was ordered to exit his vehicle, but when he did so, he refused commands to keep his hands visible. As a result, deputies took Mr. Murray to the ground in order to handcuff him. During the handcuffing process, deputies noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from Mr. Murray’s person.
Mr. Murray was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for assessment after he was detained. Just after 3:00 a.m. on Friday (the six-hour odyssey came to an end when he) was transported to the Hall County Jail and booked on the following charges: DUI-alcohol/less safe, minimum speed regulation – impeding traffic flow, failure to maintain lane and fleeing or attempting to elude.”