Numerous local police cars could be seen on Dothan Road in West Bainbridge late last Friday afternoon, after a man fled from a sheriff’s deputy and crashed into another vehicle.

At approximately 5:40 p.m. last Friday, Captain Pat Trolinger of the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling on Dothan Road when his car’s radar detected a Honda Civic traveling westbound over the Calhoun Street Bridge at 75 mph, 30 mph over the speed limit. The driver was later identified as 20-year-old James Logan Moran of 2225 Dothan Road, Lot 1.

According to DCSO and Bainbridge Public Safety incident reports, Trolinger turned on his patrol car’s lights and sirens but momentarily lost sight of the Civic as he attempted to turn around in late afternoon traffic. As Trolinger caught up, he saw Moran pass around another vehicle and run a red traffic light at the intersection of Dothan Road and Newton Road.

Moran then ran into a Pontiac Grand Prix that was attempting to turn into a convenience store’s parking lot. He continued west before turning into the parking lot of Precision Audio, where multiple sheriff’s deputies “boxed in” his vehicle.

Moran was placed under arrest. During a search of Moran, Trolinger found a clear plastic baggie containing suspected marijuana. Trolinger turned over the case to Capt. Christopher Jordan of Bainbridge Public Safety.

As Jordan spoke with Moran to get his information, the driver “stated the reason he attempted to out-run the police was because his license was suspended,” according to a BPS incident report.

Moran was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, speeding, leaving the scene of an accident, driving while license withdrawn and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.

The driver of the Pontiac had a complaint of minor injuries and was taken to Memorial Hospital by ambulance.

 

3 arrested after drugs found at checkpoint

Three area men were arrested last week on drug-related charges after a Georgia state trooper found suspected meth and marijuana inside the pickup truck they were driving in.

State troopers were participating in a road check at the intersection of State Route 262 and Old Whigham Road approximately 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13.

According to a Georgia State Patrol report, Trooper First Class Meed Kelley reportedly made contact with Jeffery Griffin, 42, of Whigham, Ga., who was driving a Toyota Tundra that approached the checkpoint.

After smelling what he believed to be the odor of marijuana coming from inside the truck, Kelley asked Griffin to pull over. Trooper First Class Walt Landrum and Senior Trooper Charles Hall then assisted in investigating.

As Hall was patting the pockets of a passenger, 49-year-old Barry Ennis Fain of Cairo, Ga., to check for weapons, a glass pipe fell from his pants leg.

Inside the truck, Landrum located two pill bottles, one containing suspected marijuana and the other containing suspected meth.

Investigator Redell Walton of the DCSO took possession of the contraband.

Although Griffin told troopers that the meth and marijuana belonged to him, both he and his passengers were arrested.

Griffin, Fain and another passenger — 25-year-old Casper Cook of Colquitt, Ga. — were each charged with possession of meth with intent to distribute and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.