LAKE PARK —
The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office has filed a total of a dozen charges against the driver and passenger at the center of Thursday’s dramatic chase through North Florida and South Georgia, said Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine.
The Osceola County Florida Sheriff’s Office had several warrants out for the driver on charges of burglary, grand theft and aggravated attempting to elude, Prine said. The driver was also wanted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for fleeing, child endangerment, and cocaine possession.
Prine said a search of the suspects’ vehicle discovered 88 grams of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $8,880, two handguns — one gun was reportedly stolen, and $1,500 in cash.
Thomas Ezzard Chenault, 34, of Orlando, Fla., is charged with felony trafficking cocaine, felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and felony bringing stolen property into the state, according to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
Bacari Oshea
McCarthren, 36, address unknown, is charged with felony trafficking cocaine, felony possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, felony bringing stolen property into the stated, felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor fleeing and attempting to elude, misdemeanor speeding, misdemeanor reckless driving, misdemeanor driving with a suspended license, and misdemeanor giving a false name or information, according to the sheriff’s office.
Both men have been denied bond, according to reports.
Contractor Jeremy Carter said the suspects passed him twice before the chase ended.
“He passed me around Lake City doing at least 90,” said Carter. “When he passed me the second time, near the state line, he was going well over 100 miles per hour. I was in the military, but the speeds at which he passed me were just sobering — I slowed down after that.”
The chase began after the driver refused to pull over his late model Cadillac and allow Hamilton County, Fla., sheriff’s deputies to examine the heavy tinting on the vehicle’s windows, according to reports.
Patrol cars from the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Offices joined Hamilton County officers in pursuit of the fleeing vehicle as it traveled north on Interstate 75, according to reports. The fleeing driver reportedly exited the interstate on Exit 2, on Bellville Road, after realizing the Lowndes County sheriff’s patrol cars were joining the pursuit.
“One thing I appreciate is that our training kicked in,” said Prine. “It started as a rountine week. But when it turned red, our training kicked in.”
As the fleeing vehicle headed north on U.S. 41, eyewitness Richard Kuter and his wife watched as the stock-car like procession of law-enforcement vehicles swarmed the streaking Cadillac. The couple watched as the chase headed back south, but on the wrong side of the road.
“He was driving southbound on the north side,” said Kuter. “[The suspect] saw those strips, pulled his car into the median and then kept heading south. I think he left a piece of his car behind in the median by that GSP car,” said Kuter.
Two PIT (Pursuit Immobilization Techniques) maneuvers were used to slow the down the car.
“A Georgia State Patrol trooper attempted to stop the vehicle using a PIT maneuver,” Prine said in a press release. “This slowed the vehicle causing it to leave the roadway and drive through the ditch across driveways and culverts.”
Prine said a second PIT maneuver was used after the vehicle returned to the road, which enabled law-enforcement officers to pin the vehicle on the right shoulder next to U.S. 41’s northbound lanes.
The driver, Bacari McCarthren, and the passenger, Thomas Chenault, were both arrested by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the jail, after both men received medical treatment at South Georgia Medical Center, according to reports.
Prine stressed that is was extremely fortunate that no one was injured during this chase and attributed it to the combined efforts of the surrounding law-enforcement agencies.
“What I’m so proud of, is our working relationship with the surrounding counties and the city police departments in Remerton, Valdosta and Hahira,” said Prine. “I almost feel that there’s no such thing as a Florida line. We have great relationships with Madison and Hamilton County.”
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