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Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that on Monday, April 27 at approximately 5:30 p.m., the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call stating that a white Toyota had passed another car just north of the river on Valdosta Highway and clipped the car it was passing. The Toyota continued heading south and did not stop. Deputies were dispatched to the area of north Valdosta Highway in an attempt to intercept. When deputies located the white Toyota the driver ran the deputies off the road. Deputies immediately initiated a pursuit as the Toyota accelerated and attempted to elude the deputies. The Toyota recklessly drove through the City of Madison at excessive high rates of speed with no regard for safety to other motorist or pedestrians. To prevent death and/or injury to others the chase came to an end when deputies forced the Toyota into a wall in front of the Madison County Courthouse on SW Range Street. The driver was removed from the car and identified as Michael Rufus Cooks, 30, of Madison and placed under arrest and transported to the Madison County Jail.
No injuries were reported. Madison Police Department assisted with the chase and worked the accident. Georgia Highway Patrol was notified as the original accident occurred in their state.
Cooks was charged with aggravated assault, two counts of assault/battery on law enforcement, resisting arrest with violence, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and no driver’s license.
Cooks most recent arrest was on April 10 for fleeing to elude, possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and no driver’s license.