Canon Man Arrested After High-speed Chase in Martin

By Ethan Jordan, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

A high-speed chase over the weekend that began in Martin ended with the arrest of a Canon man.

At about 2:30a last Sunday morning, Stephens County deputies were called in reference to threats being made at a house on Stovall Blvd in Martin.

Stephens County Randy Shirley said dispatchers reported a man arrived at the residence with a gun and was making threats to kill the people, including children.

Shirley said the man did fire his handgun as he was walking around the house before he attempted to enter it but when he heard deputies approaching, he fled on a motorcycle.

Deputies intercepted the motorcycle and attempted to stop the suspect but he continued accelerating before losing control.

However, he was able to get back on the bike and continued to run reaching speeds of 90 mph as he sped through downtown Martin.

The suspect again lost control and that time crashed at the intersection of Historic Highway 17 and Georgia Highway 17 just inside the Franklin County Line.

The suspect, identified as Joseph O’Neil Wallace, of Canon, was arrested and
transported to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center where he received treatment for his injuries.

Wallace is charged with aggravated assault, four counts of cruelty to children in the third degree, battery, fleeing and attempting to elude, driving under the influence, and multiple other traffic charges.

He is currently being held in the Stephens County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Sheriff Shirley said the incident stemmed from a domestic dispute earlier in the day that was not reported to law enforcement.