Man Crashes Twice In Police Chase

MACON, Georgia, (41NBC/WMGT) – A man fleeing from police was involved in two car crashes, Wednesday, before Monroe County Deputies could apprehend him.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent, Joseph Ricketson Monroe County Deputies mangled their patrol cars during a police chase with Jeffrey Keith Sligh.

Earlier in day the 36-year-old man faced a Monroe County Judge on burglary and arson charges.

Sligh was found guilty of burglary, and sentenced to 20 years in behind bars.

The authorities are not saying how was able to leave the courtroom, get in his white Ford pick-up truck and take off.

However, one man says he was at his West Johnston home, when he heard several police sirens on his street.

“I notice there was a truck heading up this way and apparently it lost control and flipped over,” said Dustin Roberts. “There were two cruisers at the time and they were trying to get the guy to come out and surrender. At that point, he climbed out of the top window as the truck was sitting on its side.”

“He climbed out of driver’s side window and as soon as he got down, he bolted toward one of the police cars and hopped in it,” added Roberts. “He started going 100 miles per hour heading up this way going through town.”

Roberts said he and a postman had to dive for cover as they watched the scene unfold, just blocks from the courthouse.

“I heard shots being fired and I even heard some bullets shooting through the trees,” he continued. “I mean it was pretty intense.”

GBI Agent Ricketson said they are being assisted in the investigation by a crime scene specialist in Atlanta.

“We were called by the Monroe Sheriff’s Office,” said Ricketson. “We were asked to investigate an officer’s use of force.”