A Gainesville man faces a lengthy list of assault, drug and traffic charges after fleeing from the Georgia State Patrol through Hall County around 1 p.m. Monday.
Blake Wayne Edwards, 34, is charged with simple assault, aggravated assault, felony obstruction of an officer, misdemeanor obstruction of an officer, felony fleeing and attempting to elude, and driving under the influence of drugs, according to Hall County jail reports.
Additionally, Edwards is charged with possession of LSD, possession of Xanax, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, two counts of possession of drug-related objects, drugs to be kept in original container, reckless driving, driving while license suspended, suspended/cancelled registration, speeding, running red light, improper stopping, crossing a median/gore, passing on a hill/curve, failure to stop for a stop sign, driving on the wrong side of the road, passing on a solid yellow line, and failure to maintain lane, jail records show.
Edwards also was wanted on a superior court probation warrant.
Cpl. Auston Allen of GSP Post 6 in Gainesville said Edwards fled a traffic stop from Trooper 1st Class J.S. Munger on Pine Valley Road.
"Trooper Munger had a tag reader and it alerted [on Edwards' vehicle] for suspended tag," Allen said.
Edwards then continued through Pine Valley Road and turned onto White Sulphur Road. The fleeing vehicle then turned left onto Ga. 369, then onto Broome Road, right onto East Hall Road, left onto Ga. 323, and right onto Ga. 52.
At that location, Munger completed a successful PIT on the fleeing vehicle, causing it to spin out, but Edwards was able to regain control and continue traveling in the opposite direction, Allen said.
Edwards fled west on Ga. 52 to Old Cornelia Highway, where he turned left onto Old Cornelia Highway toward Gainesville. Allen and Trooper Forrester had stop sticks set up at White Sulphur Road.
Munger was able to conduct a second successful PIT on Old Cornelia Highway just north of Joe Chandler Road.
At that point, Edwards exited the vehicle and was taken into custody. He complained of an injury.
Additionally, Munger was hurt when he slipped while making the arrest.
"The trooper had an injury to his knee -- a fairly substantial injury to his knee that occurred as he was arresting the subject," Allen said.
Allen said he was unsure if the injury will result in Munger being off more than a couple of days.
No other injuries were reported.
