A call from a concerned citizen led to the recovery of a stolen 1994 Ford pick-up truck and the arrest of Robert Wade Mathis, age 40, of Rt. 1, Box 66, Lakeland, Ga., according to Jennings Police Chief Ferron Gantous.

On Wednesday, Jan. 4, a caller informed the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) that a pick-up truck was traveling at a high rate of speed on US Hwy. 41 north towards Jennings, according to the Jennings Police Department (JPD) arrest report. Chief Gantous said he responded to the call and left Jennings, traveling south on US Hwy. 41.

Chief Gantous stated that he sighted the truck and clocked it at 89 m.p.h. in a 60 m.p.h. zone. When he turned around to pursue the truck, Mathis slowed down but continued traveling north, according to Chief Gantous. Mathis then turned on NW 20th Ave. and stopped approximately 200 feet from US Hwy. 41, Chief Gantous said.

According to Chief Gantous, he got out of his patrol car and ordered Mathis out of the truck. Mathis responded by speaking unintelligibly and motioning him towards the truck, Chief Gantous said.

After he told Mathis three times to get out of the truck, Mathis sped away down NW 20th Ave., Chief Gantous stated, and he resumed pursuit.

Mathis had crossed a small ditch that had been dug across the road, momentarily losing control of the truck before continuing down the road, according to Chief Gantous. He added that he was unable to cross the ditch without damaging his vehicle. He and other law enforcement officers then blocked all roads out of the area, he said.

The truck was located near Hidden Oaks ALF on NW 22nd Dr. and officers began a search of the area for Mathis, according to Chief Gantous.

Lt. Chip Belote of the HCSO found Mathis hiding in a nearby field, according to the arrest report. The keys to the truck were found on Mathis during a search, the report states. Lt. Stanley Cribbs from Hamilton Correctional Institute used a bloodhound to track Mathis from the truck to the place where he was found, Chief Gantous said.

Further investigation revealed that the truck was stolen from Lanier County in Georgia, according to the arrest report. Mathis was charged with fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer and reckless driving, the report states. He is being held at the Hamilton County Jail pending pick up by Lanier County Sheriff’s Office, according to the report.