Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Contributor
Madison County Sheriff David Harper reports that on Friday, June 30, at 7:30 p.m., Deputy Chad Keen attempted a traffic stop on a motorcycle traveling on 221 North traveling at 108 mph. Deputy Keen immediately turned around on the motorcycle and activated his unit’s blue lights. The motorcycle slowed and pulled over to the northbound shoulder of 221.
Deputy Keen began positioning his patrol unit behind the motorcycle and suddenly the motorcycle quickly executed a U-turn and began traveling southbound at a high rate of speed. Deputy Keen immediately made a U-turn and began pursuit of the motorcycle with blue lights and siren and notified the communications center and assisting deputies.
The motorcycle made several more U-turns on North and South Highway 221 before eventually stopping just before the I-10 east bound on ramp. Deputy Keen again positioned his unit behind the motorcycle but before he could exit his patrol unit, the motorcycle accelerated off again towards the I-10 west on ramp. Deputy Keen was able to maneuver his patrol unit and prevent the motorcycle from entering I-10. The motorcycle traveled north on 221 briefly before making another U-turn and started traveling South in the North bound lane into oncoming traffic. This caused multiple other motorists to take evasive maneuvers to prevent collision with the motorcycle. The motorcycle finally crossed into the proper lane of travel and merged onto I-10 east bound.
Deputy Keen continued the pursuit at speeds exceeding 108 mph while communicating with Deputies Bassett and Andrews of his direction of travel. Deputies Bassett and Andrews were preparing to assist Deputy Keen on I-10 but as the motorcycle approached them, he immediately began passing other motorists in between the lanes of east bound direction of travel.
Deputy Andrews and Bassett entered the pursuit with blue lights and siren and the motorcycle then began passing motorists in the emergency lane and was now traveling through construction sites at speeds in excess of 100 mph. Eventually the motorcycle was forced to slow its speed due to heavy traffic. This provided Deputy Keen an opportunity to get in front of the motorcycle and slow the east bound traffic and the motorcycle while Deputy Bassett and Andrews positioned behind it. Deputies were then afforded the opportunity to use the guard rail of the inside and the positioning of their units to block additional access to the interstate and prevent the motorcycle from the ability to continue fleeing. Deputy Keen immediately approached the driver and he was taken into custody without further incident and transported to the Madison County Jail.
Ronaldo Darnell Jones, 38, of Wrens, Ga., was arrested and charged with fleeing to elude with disregard of safety to persons or property.
Sheriff Harper respectfully commends his deputies for their prompt and effective apprehension of this criminal. This is a daily demonstration of the caliber and commitment of the men and women he appoints with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and their efforts to work together to make our community and roadways as safe as possible.