A recent high-speed chase beginning in Gray and ending at a Macon hospital was not fooling around, reaching speeds of in excess of 120 mph.
At conclusion of the April 1 pursuit, the driver was arrested on multiple charges.
Shamica Shanta Burney, 39, is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police officers for a felony offense, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, speeding in excess of maximum limits, possession of a Schedule I drug, possession and use of drug-related objects, hit and run (duty of driver to stop at or return to scene of accident) and failure to notify owner upon striking an unattended vehicle. A report of the pursuit and Burney’s arrest by Gray Police Officer Josh Josey states he attempted a traffic stop on a Honda Accord at approximately 4 p.m. April 1 on Pulaski Street near the park in Clinton.
Josey said Burney, the driver, was wanted for questioning about a hit-and-run accident that happened earlier in the day. He said the vehicle stopped but pulled off as he approached it.
An attempt was made to block the Honda, but the driver ignored commands and fled northbound toward Gray, through a parking lot and then southbound on West Clinton Street.
GPD Capt. Jacob Hunnicut spotted the Honda and got behind it as the vehicle weaved through traffic and turned onto Lite-N-Tie Road. The captain said the vehicle exceeded speeds of 100 mph during the chase.
Josey said he followed Hunnicut, who was the lead pursuit vehicle, and noted the speeds on Highway 49 hit 120 mph into Bibb County.
Hunnicut stated the chase continued through Macon onto Coliseum Drive and then Emery Highway, where they lost the visual on the Honda.
At that point they shut down the pursuit.
Josey said as they began to head back to Gray, they were notified by Bibb County officers that the Honda crashed in front of Piedmont Hospital, and the driver was fleeing on foot.
Josey said they approached the vehicle and found a 68-year-old male passenger inside.
Bibb County advised them that Burney was in custody and brought her back to the Honda.
The driver was turned over to GPD officers and placed in Josey’s patrol car. The officer said a search of the Honda by him and Hunnicutt located a clear glass pipe on the front seat and another glass pipe with residue in the back seat. He said seven pieces of a white/cloudy rock substance, believed to be cocaine, were also found in the vehicle and taken into evidence.
Burney was transported to the Jones County Law Enforcement Center and warrants secured. The passenger was transported to his residence.
