BREAKING NEWS FROM ETHAN JORDAN, NEWS DIRECTOR AT WNEG RADIO IN TOCCOA: HIGH SPEED CHASE THAT ENDED ON FERNSIDE DRIVE

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has released information regarding a recent chase and wreck that occurred Tuesday in Stephens County.

The chase ended when the suspect wrecked his car on Fernside Drive.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley says on February 1, at approximately 2:30 p.m. deputies from his office were notified of a vehicle pursuit coming into Stephens County from Oconee County South Carolina.

According to the report, Oconee County deputies were pursuing a newer model burgundy Toyota 4-Runner that was heading into Stephens County. Stephens County 911 Dispatch said the suspect driver had active arrest warrants for armed robbery and to use extreme caution as the suspect was armed with a weapon.

Stephens County Deputies responded to the area of Riverdale Road and Hwy 123. As the vehicle approached U.S. Hwy 123 from Riverdale Road, the driver turned south onto Hwy 123 heading towards Toccoa.  Shirley says deputies began pursuing the suspect reaching speeds over 100 mph. The suspect made a left turn onto Fernside Drive and again began accelerating to speeds in excess of 100 mph and continued to drive recklessly passing other vehicles on the wrong side of the road and in blind curves.

When the suspect was approaching the intersection of Colonial drive he attempted to pass several vehicles on the wrong side of the road, one of which was attempting to make a legal left turn. The vehicle making the left turn struck the suspects vehicle in the rear passenger quarter panel causing the suspect’s vehicle to lose control overturning several times before coming to rest just feet away from Big A Road. Georgia State Patrol and Toccoa Police arrived to assist as Stephens and Oconee County deputies took the suspect and passenger into custody without further incident.

During this time deputies recovered a semi-automatic handgun and a quantity of methamphetamine. These items were collected as evidence. The driver and passenger were transported to area hospitals for treatment. The passenger was released shortly after and transported to the Stephens County Jail. The driver was admitted into Gainesville Memorial Hospital where he is receiving treatment. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured.  The suspect will face criminal charges upon his release from Gainesville Memorial Hospital.

Stephens County Investigators arrived on the scene and were able to recover several spent shell casings in and around the vehicle. Early in the investigation revealed that an Oconee County deputy had seen the rear window of the vehicle suddenly burst out, and noted several flashes from inside that were consistent with gunshots. The female passenger advised investigators that the driver began firing his handgun at pursuing deputies.

Stephens Investigators contacted the Oconee County deputy and asked him to review his vehicle video to see if any shots were captured from the Oconee County deputy’s vehicle. The Oconee deputy’s in-car video captured shots being fired from within the suspect’s vehicle. Further view of the video determined that this occurred on Riverdale Road in Stephens County just prior to Stephens County Deputies taking over the pursuit on Hwy 123.

As of the time of this release the investigation is ongoing but evidence suggests that no less that 5 shots were fired by the suspect at pursuing law enforcement.

The driver has been identified as William McGuffin, age 43, of Westminster, South Carolina. McGuffin is currently charged with Felony Fleeing, Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of methamphetamine.

McGuffin will be housed at the Stephens County jail upon his release from the hospital.

More charges are forthcoming as the investigation continues.

The passenger was identified as Megan Watkins, age 36, of Westminster, South Carolina.

Watkins is charged with Possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. She is currently housed at the Stephens County jail awaiting a bond hearing.