NEWNAN, Ga. — A Georgia man is facing multiple charges after leading deputies on a chase in a car with a ‘test drive’ tag.
Coweta officials said around 3:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve, deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a silver Ford Focus with a ‘test drive’ tag, with no dates or numbers displayed on the back of the car.
Deputies said as they pulled behind the car, the driver, later identified as 43-year-old Darius Herring, made a U-turn in the driveway of a home on Welcome Arnco Road and started driving in the opposite direction.
According to the sheriff’s office, the Ford Focus reached 80 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone, speeding between several roads before pulling into a driveway, fleeing the car and running away.
Coweta authorities said, they discharged their Taser twice, but Herring got back up and continued running into the woods.
Herring reportedly fell on the ground after tripping up over his feet in nearby bushes. The sheriff’s office said Herring bit one of the deputies while being restrained. The suspect was then placed in handcuffs.
As deputies searched Herring, they reportedly found a large bag of suspected methamphetamine, Adderall, glass bulb pipe containing white and black burnt residue. Deputies said the bag of meth weighed 8 grams.
Herring was arrested and booked into the Coweta County Detention Center.
He’s charged with the following:
- Simple Battery, Possession of Schedule ½ Narcotic with intent to distribute
- Possession and use of drug-related objects
- Willful obstruction of law enforcement
- Failure to maintain lanes
- Improper turn
- Display of license plate
- Speeding
- Fleeing/ attempting to elude
- Stop sign violation (failure to yield)
- Reckless driving
- Drugs not in original container