GPD AND JCSO
An SUV stolen at a Gray convenience store early one morning came full circle by returning to Jones County before the day ended, but alas, the story did not end well for the vehicle nor the offender.
Neremiah Terrell Johnson was arrested Jan. 27 and charged with felony theft by receiving stolen property following a vehicle chase and foot race with law enforcement.
The theft was reported to the Gray Police Department at 6:35 a.m. Jan. 26. A report of the crime by GPD Capt. Eric Maynard stated he arrived at the convenience store on West Clinton Street at 6:38 a.m. and met with the victim. The complainant told him she parked in front of the store, and when she exited a few minutes later, her vehicle was gone.
Maynard met with the assistant manager of the store and watched a video of the theft. He said he saw a black male wearing a black and yellow hoodie walk through the adjacent car wash, open the passenger door of the car and drive away.
The captain said he called the Jones County Sheriff’s Office and reported the auto theft to dispatch to be entered into the Georgia Crime Information Center. He said he contacted OnStar to have the vehicle tracked, but it had been deactivated.
A report by JCSO Investigator Barron Hall states that he and Sgt. Kasey Carr were advised by dispatch that Monroe County deputies were behind the SUV on Round Oak-Juliette Road that had been reported stolen.
Hall said dispatch told them the deputies were trying to perform a traffic stop, but the vehicle was not stopping. He said he and Carr pulled out in front of the SUV to box it in, and the Monroe County deputies attempted PIT maneuvers but were unsuccessful.
The investigator said he saw the SUV approach the stop sign at Round Oak-Juliette Road and Highway 11. He said, due to the high rate of speed it was traveling, the vehicle went through the sign and into the woods.
Hall said he and Carr saw the driver get out of the SUV and tracked him until visual was lost. At that time, he requested help from the Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 unit. He said while that was going on, the vehicle caught fire, and Jones County Fire Rescue was called.
The investigator said responding units were given a description of the offender. He said Johnson was located in the woods across from where the vehicle wrecked.
JCSO Deputy Matthew Johnson was one of the officers assisting with the scene. He said he arrived close to 10 p.m., assisted with setting the perimeter and stood by the crash scene as it was being cleared.
Johnson said the K-9 team entered the woods north of White Chapel AME Church and began tracking. He said after a lengthy search, he could hear commands for the suspect to quit running and get on the ground.
The deputy said the suspect exited the woods and began to run south toward him. Johnson said he drew his taser and ordered him to the ground. The officer said the suspect complied, and he was able to approach him and take him into custody.
Johnson said while en route to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center, the suspect stated he could not breathe. He said EMS was called to meet them. The offender was checked by paramedics and was determined to be fine.
A Jan. 27 Facebook post by Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece announced the incidents leading up to and those involved in the arrest of Johnson.
“Deputies continued to follow the vehicle, which wrecked at the intersection of Round Oak-Juliette Road and Highway 11. The driver of the vehicle wasn’t quite finished yet, and he continued to run on foot into the woods. Department of Corrections K-9 Unit arrived to assist and located Neremiah Terrell Johnson of Gray hiding in the woods, where he was taken into custody without further incident.”
The sheriff thanked the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Corrections for all their help and hard work.
“Once again, teamwork makes the dream work,” Reece said.
