Convicted felon faces drug, firearm charges after high-speed chase on I-85, report says

A Clarkston man is facing multiple charges after he led a deputy on a high-speed chase, according to a report.

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, a Coweta County deputy was watching traffic near mile marker 40 of Interstate 85 when he saw a vehicle flashing its lights.

At 2:44 p.m., the deputy caught up to the blue Dodge Charger and initiated a traffic stop.

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According to a report, the Charger’s right turn signal was then turned on and the driver accelerated to 108 mph.

The driver, later identified as Darrius Chapman, exited I-85 at exit number 35, attempted to pass a vehicle using the emergency lane, lost control of the car, and “fishtailed”, then regained control of the car, according to deputies.

The deputy performed a PIT maneuver on the Charger, which caused both cars to crash into a raised concrete median.

Once the cars came to a stop, the deputy said Chapman exited his car and walked towards the woods until he was told to lie on the ground by the deputy and was then placed in handcuffs.

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According to the deputy, Chapman stated, “I didn’t mean to take off like that” and that he was just “scared.”

The deputy found a small amount of marijuana in a plastic baggie, a partially smoked marijuana joint, and a Beretta handgun inside Chapman’s car, according to the report.

Through a criminal record search, the deputy learned Chapman was a convicted felon.

Chapman faces charges of marijuana possession, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and fleeing/attempting to elude a police officer.

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