A high-speed pursuit that began in Demorest and ended in Mt. Airy resulted in James Edward Whitlock’s arrest. Whitlock, 52, of Demorest, GA was charged with DUI among other charges.
A press release from the Baldwin Police Department stated that Baldwin Officer Dakota Foster was returning to Baldwin from the Habersham County Detention Center. He observed a silver passenger vehicle traveling on the wrong side of the road within the city limits of Demorest.
Permission to stop
Foster contacted dispatch to receive permission from the Demorest Police Department to conduct a traffic stop at approximately 2:20 a.m. within their city limits. Once permission was granted, Foster conducted a traffic stop at the Whitfield Funeral Home North Chapel on Historic US 441/ GA 385. He made contact with the driver and obtained the individual’s driver’s license, identified as James Edward Whitlock, 52, of Demorest, GA.
As Foster reapproached the vehicle to have Whitlock perform a field sobriety evaluation, Whitlock fled the scene, heading south on GA 385, at which time Foster began his pursuit of the vehicle.
High-speed pursuit
Foster pursued Whitlock into Cornelia and then onto GA 365 northbound. Habersham County deputies assisted in the pursuit.
Whitlock approached speeds exceeding 100 mph on GA 365, and began driving recklessly and in an erratic manner. Whitlock was waving his hands and swerving towards Foster’s vehicle.
PIT maneuver performed
Foster performed a PIT maneuver on Whitlock’s vehicle in the vicinity of Hazel Creek Road and GA 365. Whitlock’s vehicle rotated and struck the cable barrier in the median. Habersham Deputies and Foster attempted to box in the vehicle as it rolled over. It struck Foster’s patrol vehicle before coming to a rest. According to Baldwin Police Chief Chris Jones, Foster’s vehicle sustained “very minor” damage.
Taken into custody
The Habersham County deputies took Whitlock into custody. Whitlock was transported by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center-Habersham for evaluation.
Whitlock was charged with felony fleeing and eluding, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and failure to maintain lane. All charges were handled by the Demorest Police Department.
