Contact
Forsyth County Sheriff's investigators are asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of Derek Matthew Poss to contact them at (770) 781-3073.
The suspect sought in connection with a pre-Thanksgiving hit-and-run incident that badly injured a woman in south Forsyth is no stranger to authorities.
In fact, the man the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has identified as 31-year-old Derek Matthew Poss was arrested 20 times between 1999 and 2005 on drug and weapons charges.
This time, the 31-year-old Poss is wanted for hit and run, following too closely, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license and failure to maintain lane.
Sgt. Gary Clark of the sheriff’s warrants division said authorities think Poss may still be in the area and they are “actively” searching for him.
“Any help from the public would be appreciated,” Clark said. “Just be cautious and call us.”
Clark advised against approaching Poss.
“He’ll run,” Clark said.
According to sheriff’s office records, Poss’ prior arrests in Forsyth County involve a laundry list of charges ranging from drug trafficking and possession of methamphetamine to aggravated assault and using a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime.
He also has been arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, striking an unattended vehicle and multiple probation violations.
His last stay in the Forsyth County Detention Center was Aug. 16, 2005.
“He’s got no residence that we know of,” Clark said. “He was hopping house to house.”
Authorities think Poss was driving the 2006 Chevrolet 1500 flatbed truck that was involved in a two-vehicle wreck that occurred about 6:15 p.m. Nov. 25.
The passenger, 23-year-old Cynthia Puckett, was seriously injured. The driver of the other vehicle, 38-year-old Angel Corona or Norcross, also was injured in the wreck.
The driver of the truck ran away before authorities arrived.
Puckett was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and treated for her injuries. Clark said she was released last week.
Corona also was hospitalized and released.
Corona was traveling east on Bethelview in a 2001 Ford Expedition when he noticed the flatbed truck behind him.
Because of the erratic manner in which the truck was traveling, authorities said, Corona pulled into the turning lane for the Polo Fields subdivision.
The truck, which had a Roof Depot logo on the side, struck Corona’s vehicle, then veered off Bethelview and hit a tree where it came to a rest.
Authorities searched the area with dogs, but were not able to find the driver.
The road was closed for about two hours and traffic rerouted through Polo Fields.
Representatives of Roof Depot have declined requests for comment. Clark said Poss may have been working part time for the company.
Poss has brown hair and brown eyes, is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. Clark asked anyone with any information about Poss’s whereabouts to contact authorities at (770) 781-3073.
E-mail Julie Arrington at juliearrington@forsythnews.com.
In fact, the man the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has identified as 31-year-old Derek Matthew Poss was arrested 20 times between 1999 and 2005 on drug and weapons charges.
This time, the 31-year-old Poss is wanted for hit and run, following too closely, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license and failure to maintain lane.
Sgt. Gary Clark of the sheriff’s warrants division said authorities think Poss may still be in the area and they are “actively” searching for him.
“Any help from the public would be appreciated,” Clark said. “Just be cautious and call us.”
Clark advised against approaching Poss.
“He’ll run,” Clark said.
According to sheriff’s office records, Poss’ prior arrests in Forsyth County involve a laundry list of charges ranging from drug trafficking and possession of methamphetamine to aggravated assault and using a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime.
He also has been arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, striking an unattended vehicle and multiple probation violations.
His last stay in the Forsyth County Detention Center was Aug. 16, 2005.
“He’s got no residence that we know of,” Clark said. “He was hopping house to house.”
Authorities think Poss was driving the 2006 Chevrolet 1500 flatbed truck that was involved in a two-vehicle wreck that occurred about 6:15 p.m. Nov. 25.
The passenger, 23-year-old Cynthia Puckett, was seriously injured. The driver of the other vehicle, 38-year-old Angel Corona or Norcross, also was injured in the wreck.
The driver of the truck ran away before authorities arrived.
Puckett was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and treated for her injuries. Clark said she was released last week.
Corona also was hospitalized and released.
Corona was traveling east on Bethelview in a 2001 Ford Expedition when he noticed the flatbed truck behind him.
Because of the erratic manner in which the truck was traveling, authorities said, Corona pulled into the turning lane for the Polo Fields subdivision.
The truck, which had a Roof Depot logo on the side, struck Corona’s vehicle, then veered off Bethelview and hit a tree where it came to a rest.
Authorities searched the area with dogs, but were not able to find the driver.
The road was closed for about two hours and traffic rerouted through Polo Fields.
Representatives of Roof Depot have declined requests for comment. Clark said Poss may have been working part time for the company.
Poss has brown hair and brown eyes, is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. Clark asked anyone with any information about Poss’s whereabouts to contact authorities at (770) 781-3073.
E-mail Julie Arrington at juliearrington@forsythnews.com.