High-speed chase involving stolen HERO unit ends with crash, 7 GSP cruisers damaged

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A high-speed chase involving a stolen HERO unit ended in DeKalb County when the vehicle crashed in a wooded stretch of Columbia Drive.

Channel 2′s Tom Regan spoke with a witness who said he saw Georgia State Patrol in a high speed chase with the HERO unit as it came off Interstate 20.

Troopers confirm that Atlanta police had pulled over the suspect, Vandale Fluker, 19, on the Downtown Connector at about 1 p.m. He jumped from his own vehicle near Highway 166 and ran.

Police said Fluker, who was wanted on a warrant, then jumped into a nearby HERO unit and drove off, dragging the operator.

Atlanta Police handed off their chase of the suspect to Georgia State Patrol who eventually ended the chase by performing a PIT maneuver on the HERO unit.

Channel 2 Action News video showed multiple GSP cruisers with damage and a damaged HERO unit along Columbia Drive.

Troopers say during the chase the suspect crashed into seven different GSP patrol vehicles. He may have also hit an innocent bystander, a GSP spokeswoman said.

One of the witnesses showed Regan video he took with his phone of a shirtless man in handcuffs after the crash.

GSP says the HERO unit operator had minor injuries.

Atlanta police charged Fluker with obstruction, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana, aggravated assault, pedestrian on close access highway, carrying a conceal weapon without a permit, and theft by taking auto.

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