Man Faces Over 13 Charges, Including Meth Trafficking, Following High-Speed Police Chase

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — An Atlanta man was arrested and faces 13 charges after he led sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase along Interstate 20 through two counties, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said.

On Wednesday, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office was chasing Jerry Edwin Thornton, 34, on I-20 related to drug charges. A Carrollton police task force tried to stop Thornton in Villa Rica, but he refused, and led police on a car chase.

That's when he crossed eastbound into Douglas County. Deputies say he was weaving in and out of traffic, and driving over 100 mph.

Douglas County sheriff's deputies performed a PIT maneuver — Precision Immobilization Technique — to purposefully crash the car, bringing the chase to an end near Lee Road.

After approaching the car, deputies discovered a 3-year-old child in the car with Thornton. No one was hurt, DCSO investigators said. Carrollton investigators said they seized about two ounces of methamphetamine before taking Thornton to jail.

Thornton was booked into the Douglas County jail, where he faces 13 charges, and he will be turned over to Carroll County to face his charges there, which includes a meth trafficking charge.

In Douglas County, his charges are as follows:

• Aggravated assault against law enforcement on official duty;
• Criminal interference with government property;
• Cruelty to children in the first degree;
• Reckless conduct;
• Duty upon striking fixtures on a highway;
• Operating a motor vehicle with a suspended, canceled or revoked registration;
• Driving while license is suspended or revoked;
• Safety belts - required usage;
• Safety belts - child passenger restraining system;
• Driving on a roadway laned for traffic;
• Reckless driving;
• Speeding;
• Fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.

Thornton's bond in Douglas County was denied by Chief Magistrate Judge Susan Camp.