LUDOWICI — A car chase, allegedly involving a Glennville man, ended in Ludowici with an uninvolved driver’s car being hit, and two Ludowici Police Officers injured.
According to LPD Officer Frankie Goff at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the department received a report that a white pickup, coming from Glennville, was heading toward of Ludowici. And it was being driven recklessly.
Officer Robert Hoyt drove north on McDonald Street and spotted the Chevrolet S-10 pickup, heading south toward Ludowici. Hoyt turned on his lights and siren and got behind the truck, signaling for the driver to stop.
But, according to Goff, the driver, later identified as Paul Milton Waters, continued driving toward the city, weaving across lanes and not maintaining a constant speed.
Officer Sal Genualdi also began to pursue the truck with Hoyt, as the driver drove through the intersection with Highway 84 crossing into oncoming traffic and sideswiping another vehicle.
Goff said officers decided the driver posed a grave danger to the public, so they decided to try to stop him by pinning him in.
Goff said one of the officers got his cruiser in front of the truck and slowed, while the other got right behind it. They did finally get the driver to stop.
Goff said once the officers go the truck stopped, they told the driver to get out, but he wouldn't. Genualdi then Tased the driver and Genualdi and Hoyt forcibly removed the driver from his truck.
Waters was handcuffed and taken to the LPD where he was arrested and charged with hit and run, DUI, fleeing and attempting to elude and aggravated assault on a law officer.
According to information provided by LPD Chief Richard Robertson, Hoyt’s sustained a separated shoulder and Genualdi injured his neck during the arrest, and is off on medical leave.
According to LPD Officer Frankie Goff at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the department received a report that a white pickup, coming from Glennville, was heading toward of Ludowici. And it was being driven recklessly.
Officer Robert Hoyt drove north on McDonald Street and spotted the Chevrolet S-10 pickup, heading south toward Ludowici. Hoyt turned on his lights and siren and got behind the truck, signaling for the driver to stop.
But, according to Goff, the driver, later identified as Paul Milton Waters, continued driving toward the city, weaving across lanes and not maintaining a constant speed.
Officer Sal Genualdi also began to pursue the truck with Hoyt, as the driver drove through the intersection with Highway 84 crossing into oncoming traffic and sideswiping another vehicle.
Goff said officers decided the driver posed a grave danger to the public, so they decided to try to stop him by pinning him in.
Goff said one of the officers got his cruiser in front of the truck and slowed, while the other got right behind it. They did finally get the driver to stop.
Goff said once the officers go the truck stopped, they told the driver to get out, but he wouldn't. Genualdi then Tased the driver and Genualdi and Hoyt forcibly removed the driver from his truck.
Waters was handcuffed and taken to the LPD where he was arrested and charged with hit and run, DUI, fleeing and attempting to elude and aggravated assault on a law officer.
According to information provided by LPD Chief Richard Robertson, Hoyt’s sustained a separated shoulder and Genualdi injured his neck during the arrest, and is off on medical leave.