The Towns County Sheriff and Hiawassee Police Department are disputing after a recent police chase throughout the region.
According to a press release from the Hiawassee Police Department, the incident in question happened on February 6. A driver, later identified as Caleb Matthew Price of Fair Hope, Alabama, had reportedly been seen in a black SUV driving erratically. A be on the lookout was posted for the vehicle, which was spotted heading east on Highway 76 toward the Hiawassee city limits.
"The information in the BOLO was due to the driver's manner of driving, almost striking several vehicles, almost causing a crash, and running the traffic light at the intersection of Highway 76 and Highway 288," the release reads.
One 911 caller reportedly told dispatch that Price was "going to kill somebody."
Hiawassee Police Officer Murray positioned himself at the Hiawassee Fruit Stand inside the city limits. He spotted Price and attempted to stop the vehicle as it entered the McDonald's parking lot. That's when Price allegedly accelerated toward the northwest exit and drove into the roadway, causing a car to swerve to avoid a collision.
Murray then notified Towns County Dispatch that he was leaving city limits and traveling into Towns County. The chase continued as Price headed toward Union County, at which time Murray notified Towns County Dispatch he was approaching Union County. Murray entered Union County and decided to terminate the pursuit before a merge of lanes on Highway 515. All other departments also called off the chase due to safety concerns near Blairsville.
Officers were unable to obtain a descriptive tag number off the vehicle during the pursuit to identify the driver or vehicle. Price later turned himself in to authorities after authorities investigated a series of leads. He remained in the Union County jail as of Friday morning.
Hiawassee Police Chief Jeremy Parker told AccessWDUN Towns County Sheriff Ken Henderson made allegations to other local media outlets that the police chase was reckless and being made over a minor traffic violation.
"It was not a minor traffic violation," Parker said. "This guy obviously had no regard for the safety of the public. As far as acting recklessly, I believe Officer Murray used due regard. In his report, he indicates that as he came upon heavier traffic, as he comes upon intersections, he would slow his vehicle, proceed through the intersection, then catch back up with the vehicle.
Parker said Henderson had not reached out to him to discuss the incident as of Friday morning.
This comes after an 11Alive investigation from July 2022 into an argument between Henderson and a Hiawassee Police Sargeant over their respective jurisdictions.
Parker, who was appointed interim police chief in Hiawassee in December 2022, and officially became chief in January 2023, said he was hopeful his new position would remedy issues between the two agencies.
"I was really hoping that with the change of administration, we could regain that working relationship between the two departments," Parker said.
Henderson had not returned requests for comment on the matter as of Friday afternoon.
