Man chased to airport hangar broke traffic laws, authorities say
The man who led authorities on a chase to a hangar at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Tuesday had been driving erratically and was being pursued for traffic violations.
Tyler Murkerson, 20, was hiding in his vehicle between two big trucks outside an airport equipment hangar when he finally was apprehended, Sgt. Sonja Sanchez of the Clayton County Sheriff's Department told the AJC.
He was arrested and charged with numerous moving violations, including reckless driving, running stop signs and a light, and driving on the wrong side of the road, Sanchez said.
A sheriff's deputy saw Murkerson cross four lanes of traffic without signaling and flipped on his blue lights, but Murkerson didn't stop, Sanchez said. Instead, he led the officer on a chase to a Korean Air hangar used to store the trucks and other heavy equipment that services airplanes, Sanchez said.
"He tried to hide in between some trucks thinking he was going to elude the officer," Sanchez said.
The hangar was outside the secured perimeter at Hartsfield-Jackson, both Sanchez and airport spokesman John Kennedy said.
Murkerson was arrested and taken to the Clayton County Jail.
About the Author
Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.
