Friday March 29th, 2024 3:38AM

Two-county pursuit/crash ends in arrest of N.C. men

HOMER — A chase through Franklin and Banks County ended in the arrests of two North Carolina men early Friday.

"In the early-morning hours of Friday, May 27, an officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle on Interstate 85 soutbound for traffic violations," said Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas. "The vehicle failed to stop, the officer pursued the vehicle, where speeds reached 120 mph."

The fleeing driver exited I-85 southbound at Exit 154 and turned right onto Ga. 63 (Martin Bridge Road) toward Ga. 51 North.

Near the intersection of Ga. 63 and Ga. 51, the driver of the fleeing Jeep attempted to strike a deputy's patrol unit, then turned left onto Ga. 51. The pursuit continued up Ga. 51 to Ga. 15/U.S. 441 and turned right toward Baldwin.

"At around 12:34 a.m., Banks County deputies were requested to assist Franklin County Sheriff’s Office with vehicle pursuit that was traveling into the county on I-85," said Lt.. Carissa McFaddin of Banks County Sheriff's Office. 

"The pursuit was ended on U.S. 441 near English Road after a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver was conducted by a Banks County deputy and proved to be successful," McFaddin said. "After the vehicle came to a stop, Banks County and Franklin County deputies removed the passenger, Braxton Jones, 20, of Hendersonville, N.C. As deputies attempted to remove the driver, he began to become combative and tried to flee." 

A Banks County deputy used a taser on the driver, at which time the man complied with orders, McFaddin said.

The driver, Les Corey Peak, 28, of Hendersonville, N.C., was arrested and taken to Franklin County Detention Center.

Peak is charged with driving under the influence, driving on suspended license, fleeing and attempting to elude, failure to use a turn signal, failure to maintain lane, obstruction, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, possession of drug-related objects, littering, reckless driving, speeding, following too closely and use of cellular device while driving, said Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas.

Jones, the passenger, is charged with obstruction, seatbelt violation, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana, possession of drug-related objects, open container violation, and littering, Thomas said.

Thomas said both men made their first appearance before a Franklin County magistrate judge Friday morning.

Bond for Peak was set at $13,000. Bond for Jones was set at $2,500.

Both men remained jailed at the Franklin County Detention Center Friday afternoon.

Once Peak faces the Franklin County charges, he will be taken to the Banks County Law Enforcement Center, where he will be charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and obstruction in Banks County, McFaddin said.

Peak and Jones suffered minor scrapes from the crash.  

"While deputies were processing the scene, a driver of another vehicle failed to slow down and move over," McFaddin said. "The driver was stopped by Banks County deputies and was identified as John Charles Sherrill, 29, of Cherokee, N.C. He was arrested and transported to the Banks County Law Enforcement Center for the charge of driving without a valid driver’s license."

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Local/State News
  • Associated Tags: Banks County, franklin county, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Homer, pursuit, chase, Banks County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Steve Thomas, aggravated assault on a police officer, PIT maneuver, Lt. Carissa McFaddin
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