According to a Floyd County Police Department incident report, On March 1st, 2023, at 1:03 PM, Officer Forrister was in the area of Calhoun Road near its intersection with New Hermitage Road when he observed a white male (William Carlquit Johnson Jr. 39, of Kingston) driving a silver Toyota Camry without a seatbelt. Officer Forrister reported, “[I] did initiate a traffic stop on this vehicle and noticed that the vehicle began to speed away and turn onto Old Calhoun Rd. [I] did get behind this vehicle and with both lights and sirens going, and [I] noticed the vehicle was continuing to gain speed and was not going to stop. [I] did notify dispatch that [I] was pursuing a vehicle and, at this point, saw the vehicle go through an active work zone on Old Calhoun Rd. near its intersection with Clements Road. This work zone had active workers and was marked with orange cones. The pursuit did continue to Calhoun Road, then to Rush Chapel Road with speeds going over 90 mph.” In the 500 block of Rush Chapel Road, Johnson bailed on foot and began to run up a private driveway. Officer Forrister gave chase on foot and advised Johnson he would be tazed. Lt. Hovers and his partner K9 Lex arrived on the scene and assisted with tracking. Officers learned the address they were at was 172 Prater Road. This address did have an active warrant for William Johnson. Officer Forrister looked at a previous mugshot and confirmed the suspect to be Johnson. According to the report, “K9 Lex did track through woods and into wet farmland that could only be described as marshy until coming to a fence. Once at this fence Officer Harbin with K9 Baro did come on the scene and attempted to start the track again in an effort to rest K9 lex. While performing this track, a civilian working for Comcast had advised Sgt. Penny said that they had seen the male on Calhoun Road go into a wooded area. Johnson was located on GA-53 near Pinson Road by Deputy Taylor. Johnson had been read Miranda and had already admitted to fleeing and confirmed that the path the K9 had tracked him had been the location he had run. Officers were able to see that Johnson was covered in mud and sweating. Officer Forrister reported, “[I] did ask Johnson why he ran from me, and he advised it was because he had warrants for his arrest.” Johnson was transported to the Floyd County Jail, charged with a felony probation violation warrant, felony fleeing or attempting to elude, misdemeanor obstruction of officers, speeding, reckless driving, and no seatbelt.
Wanted felon arrested after seatbelt violation leads to high-speed chase in Floyd County
