Shoplifting Suspect In Stolen Toyota Takes Deputies and Georgia State Patrol On Lengthy Pursuit

On March 3, 2022, at approximately 1209 hours, I responded to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office
call for a chase in progress. I was advised by Troop D Communication Center Bibb County was
pursuing the driver for theft. The fleeing vehicle was traveling on Bass Road approaching Georgia
Highway 87 when I began to follow pursuing units. The pursuit continued northbound on Georgia
Highway 87 before the fleeing vehicle made a right turn onto Georgia Highway 18. The pursuit then
crossed into Jones County. Shortly after crossing into Jones County, I took the primary position in the
pursuit on Georgia Highway 18 near mile marker 6. I then notified Troop D Communications Center
that I was the primary unit in the pursuit.
I was able to identify the fleeing vehicle to be a blue in color Toyota Corolla. The vehicle
continued to travel in a very reckless manner with disregard for the motoring public. The vehicle
traveled into the oncoming lanes of GA 18 multiple times, forcing oncoming traffic off the road. Due to
the drivers extreme reckless manner, I attempted to set up multiple P.I.T. (Precision Immobilization
Technique) maneuvers, but I could not obtain a proper position due to multiple factors. The fleeing
vehicle then made a right turn onto the Georgia Highway18 Bypass before making another right turn
onto Georgia Highway 22. The fleeing vehicle then traveled southbound in the northbound lanes of
travel. I continued to travel southbound parallel to the fleeing vehicle. The fleeing vehicle then began to
slow down while traveling off the roadway. The fleeing vehicle then attempted to cross over the grass
median to travel northbound in the southbound lanes. Before the fleeing vehicle could cross over the
grass median, a deputy with the Jones County Sheriff's Office performed a PIT maneuver on the
fleeing vehicle, causing the vehicle to stop. The fleeing driver then opened the driver side door and
placed his hands in the air. Members of the Jones County Sheriff’s Office and Bibb County Sheriff's
Office placed the driver under arrest with no further incident. Following the pursuit, the driver was
identified as Mr. Steven La by his name and date of birth. No contact was made with the fleeing vehicle
and my patrol vehicle. Mr. La was released to the custody of the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.