A College Park man allegedly told authorities that he fled a traffic stop at more than 120 mph over the weekend because “he did not want to take a chance on going to jail.”
It’s safe to say that decision backfired, since he’s currently in a jail cell without bond.
Shundarian Jamal Catron, 26, faces several charges after the high-speed chase, which took place just before midnight Sunday, Floyd County police told AJC.com.
An officer was on patrol that night along East Rome Bypass near Calhoun Road, according to a police incident report. The officer said he clocked Catron’s vehicle going 18 mph faster than the speed limit, so he decided to initiate a traffic stop.
Catron pulled over near Calhoun Road, and the officer asked the man for his driver’s license, the report said. The officer said the man “appeared to be nervous and upset.”
The suspect pulled out his wallet, allowing the officer to see his license, but he did not hand it over, the report said. Instead, he allegedly tossed it onto the passenger’s seat and pretended that he was looking around the car for his license.
Due to the suspicious behavior, the officer told Catron to turn off the car, which is when the suspect put the car in drive and sped off, the report said. The ensuing chase surpassed 120 mph and included the suspect running two red lights, police said.
The officer eventually had to give up on the chase since one of the tires on his police cruiser was beginning to go flat, the release said. However, Georgia State Patrol and Bartow County deputies assisted with the pursuit, which ended near Ga. 20.
Catron allegedly tried to go off-road near an entrance ramp and got stuck down an embankment. He got out of the car and tried to run away, but he was quickly detained, the report said.
He admitted to police that he knew he had a suspended license and an outstanding warrant in Bartow County for failing to appear in court, the report said. In connection with the chase, Catron was also charged with counts of fleeing police, speeding, failure to obey traffic devices and reckless driving.
Due to the outstanding warrant in Bartow County, he was denied bond, Floyd County Jail records show.
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