The Hall County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on its part in the Tuesday afternoon chase on McEver Road that ended in a multi-vehicle crash at Flat Creek Road.
“A Commerce man faces charges from both the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) following a series of traffic accidents along McEver Road in Gainesville.
An HCSO patrol deputy made the initial contact with Joey Levi Ledbetter, 28, just before 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Witnesses had reported a driver, later identified as Ledbetter, was passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle in the driveway of the Chattahoochee Baptist Association Building at 1220 McEver Road. The deputy approached the vehicle, which was running, and observed the driver had his foot on the vehicle brake while the vehicle was in drive. Because the car doors were locked, the deputy knocked on the windows until Ledbetter responded. He ordered Ledbetter to put the vehicle in park so he could speak to him, but Ledbetter drove away from the scene at a high rate of speed.
The deputy followed Ledbetter southbound on McEver Road until Ledbetter stopped his vehicle in the left travel lane at Browns Bridge Road. The deputy pulled alongside Ledbetter’s vehicle in the left turn lane and was in the process of exiting his patrol vehicle when Ledbetter steered his car abruptly to the left, striking the front bumper of the patrol vehicle. Ledbetter then ran the red light at McEver and Browns Bridge Road, continuing southbound on McEver, driving in a dangerous and reckless manner.
The deputy followed Ledbetter, observing him failing to maintain his lane of travel, improperly passing other vehicles and cutting vehicles off in traffic. Ledbetter continued to drive southbound at speeds in excess of 90 mph until he reached the intersection of Flat Creek Road. At that location, Ledbetter ran a red light and struck an SUV, causing his vehicle to spin out of control and off the shoulder of the road. At that point, Ledbetter was arrested. EARLIER STORY. POSTED WEDNESDAY MORNING: Police chase ends in 5-vehicle crash at S. Hall intersection
HCSO has levied the following charges against Ledbetter:
- Aggravated assault on an officer (felony)
- Fleeing and eluding (felony)
- Hit and run
- Obstruction
- Failure to obey traffic device
- Driving on a suspended license
- Failure to maintain lane
- Reckless driving
- Tire conditions violation
GSP troopers also filed charges against Ledbetter in connection with the collision at Flat Creek and McEver Road and a DUI investigation.
Ledbetter remained in the Hall County Jail at last check. He had no bond on the aggravated assault charge.”