HCSO Involved in Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle, Ends with Successful PIT Maneuver
HCSO Involved in Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle, Ends with Successful PIT Maneuver
FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. — Authorities used pepper spray and beanbag rounds after multiple attempted PIT maneuvers to stop a driver who engaged several law enforcement agencies in a high-speed chase from Chattanooga to Fort Oglethorpe on Friday, according to arrest reports.
Those reports say the driver, Van William Atkins, stole the Ford F 150 truck from his friend on July 3. The friend told Chattanooga Police that Atkins had been driving him in the truck, and when he stepped out of sight of the vehicle and came back, Atkins had taken off.
Officers tried to call Atkins, who claimed the friend had let him borrow the vehicle. Atkins told officers he would return the truck in 10 minutes, but never showed.
The reports also say officers returned to the friend’s home on July 8 to get the truck’s license plate and vin numbers to officially register it as stolen.
According to the reports, two days later at 7:42, Chattanooga Police had found the truck and deployed a Star Chase tracker on it. Hamilton County Sheriff’s office joined the pursuit of the truck after the tracker showed it was traveling east on I-24 near Moore Road.
A deputy saw Atkins speedily weaving in and out of the 4 lanes of traffic, and started the chase.
Once on I-75, Atkins sped up to 100 mph, and continued into Georgia. Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office personnel joined the pursuit at that point.
The reports say Atkins exited onto Battlefield Parkway, still driving at high speeds and blowing through redlights.
The Fort Oglethorpe Police had shut down the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and Parkway Drive, in an attempt to make it easier for the deputy to try to slow Atkins down with a Pit Maneuver.
One of the back tires on the truck popped, slowing Atkins down. The first two PIT maneuver attempts were made at the intersection near Lakeshore Drive. They were not successful, and Atkins proceeded to drive eastbound in the westbound lanes.
The deputy tried two more PIT maneuvers once Atkins had crossed back into the eastbound lanes, causing Atkins to drive through a ditch and into the parking lot of a plaza in the 2700 block of Battlefield Parkway.
Atkins continued to drive recklessly through the parking lot, headed toward a Zaxbys.
According to the arrest reports, it was there that the deputy was able to use his patrol car to stop Atkins.
Photo: Brook Johnson
The reports say Atkins refused to come out of the truck, prompting Georgia law enforcement to try to bash his window to get him out.
Atkins was rifling through his center console and reaching into the backseat, causing concern that he might be armed. Hamilton County Deputies used pepper spray to try to stop him, but he kept reaching.
He was stopped by several beanbag rounds that were fired at him, but he continued refusing to leave the truck. Officers and deputies worked together to get him out, and EMS took him to the hospital, where he was briefly admitted for treatment.
Photo: Brook Johnson
Deputies searched the truck, finding two scoops with Fentanyl powder residue on them, burnt pieces of foil, and two cell phones.
Atkins was arrested upon his release from the hospital.
Online arrest record show Atkins is charged with:
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (3)
- Evading arrest
- Theft of property
- Reckless endangerment
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
NewsChannel 9 WTVC
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