Lifted Pickup Takes GSP On A Lengthy Chase || Trooper Executes SURGICAL PIT Maneuver!

On February 5, 2024 at approximately 1300 hours I was notified by Troop B communications that the Oakwood City Police were chasing a silver Chevrolet Silverado that fled from a traffic stop. The officers initially encountered the vehicle on Bolding Road with the driver, later identified as Mr. Hunter Thompson by his Georgia Driver's license, passed out behind the steering wheel of the vehicle. The officers were able to wake the driver who reportedly became startled and fled from the scene. The officers attempted to pursue the vehicle, however they soon lost visual contact and called off their pursuit. I continued to the area where the vehicle was last seen. At approximately 1308 hours, Motor Carrier Compliance Division Officer Hayden Smith and I observed the reported silver Chevrolet Silverado heading north on Calvary Church Road in the southbound lanes attempting to pass other vehicles while I was traveling southbound. The vehicle passed me in the northbound lane of travel. I then proceeded to turn around behind the Silverado while activating my blue lights and siren. After turning around to travel north on Calvary Church Road, I was unable to see the vehicle as he continued north. I attempted to catch up to the Silverado and regained visual contact at the intersection of Calvary Church Road and Candler Road. The Silverado had turned onto Candler Road traveling eastbound. I followed the vehicle and was able to catch up. I determined that I was close enough for the driver to notice both the visual and audible signals from my patrol vehicle and he continued to travel eastbound on Candler Road. At that time, I notified Troop B communications that I was involved in a chase in progress. As I followed the vehicle eastbound on Candler Road, Mr. Thompson again traveled into the on-coming lane in order to pass traffic. This occurred several more times as I continued to pursue Mr. Thompson. While traveling east on Candler Road, I was able to get in front of the fleeing vehicle and attempt to box the vehicle in between myself and MCCD Officer Smith. Mr. Thompson was able to drive onto the shoulder of the roadway and continue fleeing east on Candler Road after stopping for a short period. As I pursued Mr. Thompson south on Lee Land Road, I was able to check the speed of my patrol vehicle at 90 miles per hour while attempting to keep up with Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson also failed to maintain his lane by traveling over the double yellow and down the center of the roadway several times and while negotiating curves. The pursuit continued onto Poplar Springs Road, where Trooper First Class Seth Frady and Trooper Brett Smith were able to join and assist in the pursuit as well as several Hall County deputies. Again on Poplar Springs Road, Mr. Thompson traveled into the oncoming travel lanes to pass traffic. Mr. Thompson continued onto Pine Vale Road and continued to drive with reckless disregard for the safety of the motoring public. I determined that in the best interest for the safety of the motoring public that a Pursuit Immobilization Technique (P.I.T) would be the fastest way to effectively terminate the pursuit. I performed the Pursuit Immobilization Technique, which caused the fleeing vehicle to rotate counter-clockwise and off the west shoulder of the roadway. At that time, Mr. Thompson attempted to exit the vehicle and flee the scene on foot, ignoring verbal commands to stop. As Mr. Thompson attempted to flee on foot, I pulled my Taser 7 and aimed it at Mr. Thompson. During this incident my Taser 7 was not deployed. Trooper First Class Seth Frady was able to catch up to and assist Mr. Thompson to the ground. Mr. Thompson attempted to continue fleeing from the scene until three Hall County deputies and I were able to restrain Mr. Thompson. Trooper Brett Smith was able to put Mr. Thompson in handcuffs, at which point we notified Troop B communications that we had Mr. Thompson in custody. While Mr. Thompson was being walked to the Oakwood Police Officer's patrol vehicle, I began a vehicle inventory of Mr. Thompson's Silverado. I was able to locate Mr. Thompson's wallet containing his Georgia Driver's license as well as a prescription medicine bottle labeled as containing Oxycodone with five pills remaining inside the bottle and Mr. Thompson's name on the label. Due to Mr. Thompson initially being found passed out behind the steering wheel of his vehicle, driving with a reckless disregard for the safety of the motoring public, and after Mr. Thompson was placed in the rear of the Oakwood Police Officer's patrol vehicle, I read Georgia's Implied Consent Notice for Suspects Age 21 or Over for blood to which Mr. Thompson refused. Mr. Thompson was then transported to the Hall County Jail by Oakwood Police Officer Smiley. Mr. Thompson was released to Jail personnel for booking and arrest procedure without further incident.