Multiple charges await Nicholson man

Warrants have been issued for Russell Meade Croft, 21, of 98 Birch Street, Nicholson, in connection with a chase that hit speeds of 100 miles per hour, according to the Commerce Police Department.

Warrants charge Croft with possession of Schedule II narcotics, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, obstruction, fleeing and eluding police, reckless driving, driving with an expired tag, driving without insurance, a taillight violation and failure to maintain a lane.

The incident started when a black Jeep turning off of Hwy. 326 onto the Commerce bypass almost struck a police vehicle. The officer pursued and pulled the Jeep over near W.E. King Road, according to the officer’s account.

Before the officer could exit his vehicle, however, the Jeep took off. The chase hit 100 miles per hour, crossed Interstate 85, where a Banks County deputy joined the chase, then turned south on Faulkner Road, right on Yarborough-Ridgeway Road and then right onto Grove Level Road.

The vehicle pulled into a driveway on Grove Level Road, the report said, at which time the driver and a passenger fled into the woods.

Both the Banks County and Commerce K-9 units were deployed, and police found the passenger near Water Plant Road, but the driver got away.
The passenger identified Croft as the driver, according to the incident report.

A search of the vehicle allegedly turned up a small bag of marijuana under the driver’s seat, along with three pills later identified as Vicodin, and other empty plastic bags. In the pocket on the driver-side door, officers allegedly found a set of digital scales and cigarette rolling papers, while in the back seat they found another plastic bag containing marijuana.