A Barrow County male and female, both 24 years old, were taken into custody after they led police on a chase through Barrow, Oconee, Clarke and Jackson counties Sunday afternoon.
According to Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith, the chase began in Winder, where deputies responded to a report of a domestic dispute at 544 Rockwell Church Road.
A witness said she saw Jeffrey Jordan Taylor, 24, of 539 McCarty Road, Statham, and a female victim, identified as Leah Whitney Shepley, of 1328 Jefferson Hwy, Winder, engaged in a verbal dispute that turned physical. According to the witness, the couple was yelling profanities at one another when Taylor jumped up and punched Shepley in the face.
The BCSO was dispatched at about 2:20 p.m., when the witness called 911 and said the female victim was running down the street and her aggressor followed in a black 1998 Chevy Blazer with large chrome wheels on it.
Believing Taylor may have been attempting to run Shepley over, deputies went to look for the vehicle, said Smith.
It was determined that the two met up at the EZ Buy Convenience Store on Jefferson Hwy. and Ga. Hwy. 211, where Shepley got into the vehicle with Taylor and they headed toward Jackson County, said Smith.
Taylor eventually drove back to the EZ Buy, where deputies tried to make a traffic stop. But as he was asked to exit the vehicle, Taylor opened the door and placed his hand under his leg, causing deputies to draw their weapons.
Taylor got back in the driver’s seat and slammed the door, when a pursuit began down Ga. Hwy. 53 on Rockwell Church Road toward Winder on Jefferson Highway at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour, according to Smith. In Winder, Taylor reportedly took turns from Mimosa Street onto East Broad Street at speeds exceeding 100 miles an hour.
At that time, deputies were still under the impression that Shepley was being held hostage, instead of assisting in Taylor’s attempts to elude law enforcement.
“She was screaming and yelling,” said Smith. ““We were still under the impression that he is beating this girl up.”
Deputies who weren’t involved in the pursuit would later determine that Shepley had been trying to watch for traffic and tell Taylor where to go, said Smith.
Taylor and Shepley led deputies into Statham on Ga. Hwy. 82 and then onto Dials Mill Road in Oconee County, where the Georgia State Patrol picked up the chase.
Taylor tuned right onto Huntington Road in front of the Georgia Square Mall in Athens-Clarke County, turning right onto Timothy Road and onto Epps Bridge Road, before getting onto the Georgia 10-Loop toward Atlanta Highway and then tried to come down Tallassee Road.
The vehicle lost control and swerved onto Ga. Hwy. 82, when it overturned against a tree. Both Shepley and Taylor were transported to Athens Regional Medical Center. A trooper went with them to the hospital where they were arrested and taken to the Barrow County Detention Center, pending several charges with various agencies.
After finding Oxycodone pills in Shepley’s bra during intake, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office charged her with illegal possession of a controlled substance and fleeing or attempting to elude police.
Taylor’s charges with the BCSO are Violating Georgia’s Controlled Substance Act, obstruction, fleeing and attempting to elude police, no insurance, passing in no passing zone, stop sign violation, aggressive driving and reckless driving.
Assisting Georgia State Patrol troopers attempted to stop Taylor at Ga. Hwy. 1-29 at Cripple Creek Road, according to reported made by GSP Trooper Stan Staniszewski.
Taylor, at one point, drove his car down the wrong side of Highway 1-29 and then turned off onto Ga. Hwy. 82. He was finally apprehended off Timothy Road in Clarke County.
The GSP will charge with three counts of aggravated assault, fleeing and attempting to elude and some other minor traffic charges.
Glad to see Deputies and officers taking the time to follow the law in regards to stops and searches and arrests.
thank you officers for stopping a out of control driver and his girlfriend, I am not Crazy about the man getting pulled over and arrested for having but of reefer cigarette but at least the deputy in that case acted within the law and prompt attention to the drivers constitutional rights.
what they were doing to others I say if they want to take pills till thier heads explode let them.
issues firsthand. I only hope they can get some help, unfortunately they have children that will be a lost generation without some serious help.
second I hope we as community find the compassion to temper justice with mercy, help to get this family on better track.
Thank you and God Bless each and everyone of you.
I am not condoning any behavior here or making excuses for any broken laws. I am just saying really attacking the girl, their looks, hair style is uncalled for.
Being called trash referring to the whole family just the whole slant toward a non elected official is disturbing.
This young female is someone's daughter, sister etc. How would any of you feel if this was your child? NO PARENT CAN EVER SAY THAT THEIR CHILD WILL AND WON'T DO SOMETHING. too many parents have had to eat their words with this one.