High Speed Chase Leads to Arrests in Franklin Co.

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Franklin County authorities have released the names of the two men involved in a high-speed chase down Interstate 85 in Franklin County late Tuesday night.

Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas identified them as 24-year old Adarius Dennis and 28-year old Shavario Jenkins, both of Greenville, South Carolina.

Thomas said Dennis is charged with obstruction of an officer, giving a false name, possession of marijuana less than an ounce and has a hold for Greenville County on a felony probation charge.

Meanwhile, Jenkins is charged in Franklin County with entering an auto, auto theft, probation warrant, burglary second degree and obstruction.

It started on Interstate 85 southbound at about 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to Georgia State Patrol Hartwell Post Commander Al Whitworth.

Whitworth said a vehicle passed one of his troopers pushing 100 miles per hour.

“Trooper Fuller of Post 52 was operating radar on I-85 and clocked a vehicle on I-85 going approximately 98 mph,” Whitworth said. “Once the vehicle was pulled over, as the trooper approached, it proceeded to flee the scene. As the vehicle sped down I-85 southbound, it was passing tractor-trailers in the emergency lane. When the suspect passed the weigh station he was doing about 115 mph.”

Whitworth said the vehicle got off at Exit 166, then doubled back and tried to get back on the Interstate headed northbound.

“Trooper Fuller was able to execute a PIT maneuver, and both occupants fled the vehicle on foot,” Whitworth said.

At that point, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office deputies joined in the chase.

Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas said everyone in the vehicle jumped out of the car and ran.

“The trooper gave chase to the driver, but he was not able to catch him,” Thomas said. “The dogs were brought out and the search continued in the heavy rain until around 1 a.m.”

Meanwhile, Thomas said his officers were able to locate one of the passengers nearby.

“We got a call about a suspicious person behind the Echo,” Thomas said. “We were able to arrest the passenger who was laying out in a field behind the restaurant.”

The search continued overnight Tuesday into Wednesday for the driver and Thomas said his officers and Post 52 troopers received word of a suspicious person at the Wilco truck stop off Exit 166.

“As the officer approached the Wilco, he ran out the door,” Thomas explained. “They gave chase around the back of the Wilco. They lost him, and we called the dogs again. While the officers were doing a sweep of wooded area and the buildings and houses directly behind there, one of the officers observed a pickup there in a garage.”

Thomas said as the officer stepped around the garage, he spotted the suspect trying to get into a parked vehicle and arrested him.

According to Thomas, a search of the suspects’ vehicle turned up some items believed to be stolen.

He said after interviewing the suspects’ family they learned there was a third passenger in the car who has not yet been located.

Thomas thanked area law enforcement for their help in capturing the two suspects.

Dennis and Jenkins remain in the Franklin County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.

Thomas said more charges are coming from the Georgia State Patrol.