OAKWOOD PD NEWS RELEASE:
“The pursuit started in Oakwood. We received notice that a stolen vehicle from Gwinnett County was spotted in the Walmart parking lot. Units responded and found the car, and upon approaching the vehicle, the driver, who was leaning over, sat up and began to drive away.
Our personnel began to follow the vehicle and a pursuit ensued. Upon the early initiation of the pursuit, the fleeing suspect rammed one Oakwood Police vehicle and also struck four other vehicles belonging to private citizens.
The pursuit proceeded south on 985 from Mundy Mill. Pursuit speeds reached 84 miles per hour and Oakwood units were not able to attempt to stop the vehicle using the PIT maneuver. Flowery Branch officers were able to get in front of the pursuit and deploy spike strips. The spike strips were successfully deployed against the suspect’s vehicle and no other vehicles were damaged.
The suspect continued southbound on 985 until his tires began to shred. This caused the fleeing vehicle to slow and the PIT maneuver was successfully used to stop the fleeing vehicle at about mile marker 9 or 10. Once the PIT maneuver was used, the fleeing suspect was spun around and off the right shoulder of the road. He attempted to continue fleeing, but his vehicle would not work well enough to drive on soil.
The suspect attempted to flee and resist further and was tased during the apprehension process. Charges: Theft by Receiving, Obstruction, Fleeing and Eluding, 4 counts of Hit and Run (pending by warrant), and Open Container.
Suspect: Nichael Patrick Walker, 43 years old, out of Jefferson, GA
No injuries resulted from any of the suspect’s actions.”