Last Thursday afternoon a green Volkswagen Beetle led a chase of several law enforcement agencies across Dawson County and into Forsyth County before being stopped by authorities.
According to Dawson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Major Greg Rowan, an officer with the Georgia Department of Community Supervision went to a Valley Road residence in Dawson County to serve an arrest warrant on Gary Lewis Samples, 46, for violation of his felony probation when the alleged suspect tried to hit the officer with his vehicle on March 28.
At approximately 5:25 p.m. Dawson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a BOLO for the suspect’s Volkswagen Beetle. A vehicle matching the description was seen increasing its speed on Dawson Forest West where DCSO deputies began to pursue.
With authorities in pursuit, the Volkswagen turned onto Red Rider Road and reached speeds in excess of 55 mph and made its way back to Lumpkin Campground Road South towards Forsyth County.
According to the incident report, deputies pursued the vehicle, reaching speeds more than 80 mph as they tracked the vehicle to Jot Em Down Road towards Ga. 400 where the driver drove off road and turned through the grass to take a right onto Ga. 400 South.
Units from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office took over the pursuit as the chase continued with the driver speeding up Ga. 400 North towards Dawson County where the suspect reached speeds up to 105 mph, according to the report.
The pursuit led authorities down Industrial Blvd., Grizzle Road, Hugh Stowers Road and Vandiviere Road in Dawson County before the suspect returned to his Valley Road residence and exited the vehicle.
The suspect, identified as Gary Lewis Samples, was taken into custody.
Samples was charged with aggravates assault upon a law enforcement officer and fleeing/attempting to elude a police officer, both felonies. He was also charged with violation of conditions of a limited driving permit, reckless driving, four counts failure to maintain lane, three counts obedience to traffic control device, two counts speeding, two counts passing in a no passing zone and two counts failure to stop for a stop sign.
According to Rowan, Samples is still in custody at the Dawson County Detention Center. No bond is set at this time.