Clarkesville Man Charges After High-Speed Chase in Toccoa

By Jessica Waters, WNEG Radio

A Clarkesville man is facing multiple charges in Toccoa after an incident at the Toccoa Home Depot over the weekend.

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, it happened Saturday morning when one of his deputies was conducting a walk-through at the Toccoa Home Depot Store.

A man, identified later as 39-year-old David Justin Freeman, of Clarkesville, allegedly became very irate, making threatening statements and profanity-laced language at the deputy.

Store associates asked the Freeman to leave and the deputy escorted him out of the store to his truck.

According to witnesses, as the deputy was checking the vehicle registration number, Freeman abruptly put the truck in reverse and began backing up almost striking the deputy.

He then fled, driving recklessly through the parking lot and continued a high rate of speed crossing Memorial Drive into the Walmart parking lot with the Deputy in pursuit.

The chase led Deputies, Toccoa Police, and Troopers with GSP Toccoa and Hartwell Posts through the Walmart parking lot, back onto Big A Road, and through the Pointe Church parking lot before ending up back in the Home Depot parking lot.

When Freeman saw the Deputy still chasing him, he allegedly swerved his truck in the direction of the deputy and slammed head-on into the Deputy’s cruiser.

When GSP Troopers arrived on the scene they positioned themselves behind the engines of their cruisers with weapons drawn.

Freeman was ordered to show his hands, but he refused.

After numerous demands by law enforcement were made to surrender, all to no avail, a decision by Sheriff Randy Shirley to break the driver’s side glass window.

Officers immediately broke the window, but Freeman allegedly began punching and kicking officers, as well as throwing glass at law enforcement personnel.

The passenger window of the vehicle was also broken in order to get a juvenile passenger out.

Freeman was pulled from the truck and placed under arrest but continued to resist.

The Juvenile was released to the custody of the Department of Family and Children’s Services, where he was subsequently released to a family member.

According to Shirley, several law enforcement officers from Toccoa Police, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Patrol received minor injuries during the altercation but declined medical treatment.

Freeman is charged with Aggravated Assault (Felony), Obstruction Of Law Enforcement Officers By Use Of Threats Or Violence (Felony), Willful Obstruction Of Law Enforcement Officers By Use Of Threats Or Violence -(Felony), Fleeing Or Attempting To Elude A Police Officer (Felony), Reckless Driving (Misdemeanor), And Simple Assault (Misdemeanor).

He remains in the Stephens County Detention Center.