AMERICUS — A 25-year-old Americus man remains in the Sumter County Jail today after his arrest Thursday following a car chase.
Sumter County Sheriff Pete Smith identified the man as Sherman J. Stephens of 336 S. Hampton St., Americus, He said Stephens had been charged with failure to appear in court. Stephens’ vehicle came through the sheriff’s office’s card reader as having an active warrant for expired registration. The deputy, Cpl. Donald Williams, started following Stephens’ vehicle.
Sumter County Sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Spriggle explained that Williams conducted a traffic stop on Stephens’ vehicle on South Hampton Street, and when the deputy exited his patrol unit, Stephens took off in his car with the deputy in pursuit in his patrol car.
Spriggle said the deputy’s patrol car skidded on wet grass and crashed into a residence on Bessie Mays Circle, while Stephens ran into the house where he was apprehended and arrested.
Stephens is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police officer, failure to obey signs or control devices, passing in a no-passing zone, failure to signal lane change or turn, failure to obey stop sign, expired or no registration or title, and driving while license is suspended or revoked.
There were no injuries in the incident, Spriggle said.
— Beth Alston