Three Tennessee teenagers face several charges after being caught in a stolen car in Whitfield County, leading to a high-speed chase and manhunt, authorities said.
Georgia State Patrol troopers were called to I-75 about 1 p.m. Tuesday after deputies spotted a 2017 Audi Q5 speeding down the road, GSP said in a news release. A trooper said he clocked the vehicle going 17 mph faster than the speed limit.
When the trooper turned on his emergency lights, the Audi’s driver continued to speed along I-75 South toward exit 315, the release said. The Audi got off on the exit and re-entered the interstate going north, where the pursuit continued to exit 328.
The chase moved to Ga. 52, and when the Audi’s driver tried to turn onto Ga. 3, the car sideswiped several other vehicles, GSP said. The Audi’s driver then lost control and crashed.
The driver and two passengers got out of the wrecked car and tried to run away, the release said. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Laderron Freeman of Chattanooga, and a passenger, identified as 17-year-old Martinez Billups of Chattanooga, were quickly detained.
However, the other passenger was able to get away, prompting SWAT units and an aviation team to conduct a manhunt, the release said. On Wednesday, authorities arrested a 16-year-old and accused him of being the third suspect.
Authorities learned that the Audi had been stolen from Chattanooga earlier this week, the release said. The three suspects were also in possession of stolen handguns during their arrests, GSP said.
The trio faces firearm related charges in addition to a felony in connection with the stolen vehicle, GSP said. Freeman faces additional counts of fleeing police, obstruction and several driving citations. The 16-year-old, who is being charged as a juvenile, also faces an obstruction charge, GSP said.
The two adults were taken to the Whitfield County Jail, while more information on the juvenile’s custody was not provided. Their mug shots were not immediately available.
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