A Jones County man was recently arrested following a chase with officers and seems likely to be facing additional charges.
Walter Joe Daniels, 75, was arrested Feb. 19, and the booking report shows him charged with reckless driving, DUI less safe combination, failure to maintain lane and possession scheduled II drugs.
At least three Jones County deputies and one Gray Police officer were involved in the chase that had the goal of getting the reckless driver off the road before anyone was injured. In a report of the incident by JCSO Sgt. Travis Walker, the deputy stated that he received information over the radio about a reckless driver that had almost struck an investigator’s vehicle head-on.
Walker said he positioned his vehicle at a mobile home park on Gray Highway to intercept the speeding motorist. He said he saw the gray pickup truck and initiated his blue lights. The sergeant said the car slowed and pulled to the side of the road. When he got out his patrol car, the vehicle kept rolling and left the scene.
Walker said he pursued the truck and attempted to stop it using a PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver. The vehicle turned, struck the investigator’s car, pushing is around before fleeing into the City of Gray.
The sergeant pursued the vehicle again, reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph in weather conditions that were wet and rainy.
He said he conducted a second PIT maneuver on Bill Conn Jr. Parkway, which that time was successful.
“My objective was to get him stopped before he hurt someone or himself severely or fatally,” Walker said.
The narrative of the arrest by JCSO Investigator Barron Hall said he observed the gray pickup traveling on Joycliff Road Feb. 19. He said the truck was in the same lane coming at him head-on.
The incident time on the report is 12:30 p.m.
Hall said he had to swerve to the side of the road to keep from being struck, then turned and tried to catch up to the truck. The investigator notified dispatch and deputies in the area.
He was able to catch up to the pickup to see it traveling at a high rate of speed and continuing to travel on both sides of the road. Hall said the vehicle cut through the parking lot of the BP station on the corner and continued northbound on Gray Highway.
Hall said he activated his blue lights and pursued the truck, but it was able to create a distance. The investigator informed dispatch of the situation and continued to monitor the truck, providing its location for officers up ahead.
Hall saw Walker’s PIT maneuver and tried to block the truck from the front. The truck continued to accelerate and hit his patrol vehicle in the back before continuing on Gray Highway. He said the truck almost wrecked at Bill Conn Parkway, making a sharp turn, at which time Walker performed the second PIT maneuver. That stopped the truck at the entrance of the convenience store on the corner.
The driver was identified as Daniels, and Walker said he was safely apprehended. He said after being read his Maranda rights, the driver told him he smoked crack cocaine before driving the truck. The sergeant said a crack pipe was on the floor of the truck by the driver’s feet with residue inside.
Walker said a field sobriety test was not conducted because the driver was talking out of his head and was uncooperative.
Daniels’ arrest was announced on the Jones County Sheriff Office Facebook page. The post summarized the offender’s encounter with the officers.
“Mr. Daniels was taken into custody without further incident and charged with fleeing or attempting to eude, reckless driving, DUI less safe, failure to maintain lane, possession of cocaine, and aggravated assault on a peace officer,” the sheriff said. “He remains in custody at this time. Great job to all those involved.”
