An early morning chase that began in Jones County and spanned more than 50 miles through four counties ended in an arrest on multiple charges.

Joseph Benjamin Thompson, 27, of Macon, was arrested in Eastman and charged with burglary and possession of cocaine with more charges pending.

Jones County Investigator Lt. Jimmy Black said the crime began at 1:44 a.m., Jan. 5, at the P.K. Food Mart, located at the intersection of Griswoldville Road and Highway 49. Black said although the sign at the store says P.K.’s, the business has changed hands and is actually Gary’s Food Mart number 9. The business was formerly known as Kelly’s.

Black said Thompson drove his Toyota Tercell onto the sidewalk and through the front doors of the food mart. He then proceeded to take four or five plastic racks of lottery tickets ranging from $5 to $20 per ticket.

Black said Deputy Calvin Miller had checked the store as part of his regular patrol minutes before the burglary.

The investigator said luckily a citizen saw the Toyota pull out of the building and gave officers a description and a tag number. Black said the vehicle tag came back to Thompson, and officers checked his house to make sure the car was not stolen.

When it was verified Thompson was in the vehicle, officers began searching for him and Deputy Travis Douglas spotted the Toyota on Emery Highway.

“The suspect took off at a high rate of speed when he saw Travis and headed to the Cochran short route. Travis pursued him through Twiggs County, Bleckley County, and Dodge County,” Black said.

The investigator said Bleckley County deputies took over the chase, and with the help of Eastman police officers, stopped Thompson in the city limits of Eastman.

“There was no traffic on the road at that time of the morning, so we were able to continue in pursuit,” he said. Black estimated the chase spanned between 50 and 60 miles, and he said Jones County Deputy John Jackson was also following behind Douglas.

Black said Thompson and the Toyota were returned to Jones County, and he was able to recover gloves and a ski mask used in the burglary. Cocaine was also found in the vehicle. During his investigation Monday afternoon, Black also recovered items taken in the burglary, including lottery tickets found around Fort Hill off Recreation Road.

“He stopped long enough to scratch off some of the tickets,” Black noted.