Illinois Couple Arrested in Stephens County After Wreck, Chase

By Ethan Jordan, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

In Stephens County, a couple from Illinois are behind bars after leading Sheriff’s Deputies on a high-speed chase that ended in Franklin County.

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley, the incident happened on Monday, November 4, after deputies were dispatched to a single vehicle accident on Rock Creek Road at Brookhaven.

Deputies arrived at the accident scene only find the driver and a passenger involved had fled on foot.

Shirley said during the investigation, a witness told deputies he had seen a man and woman walking along Brookhaven and gave them a ride to the Toccoa Wal-mart.

Deputies also learned the vehicle involved in the wreck had been stolen out of Florida.

Toccoa Police found the couple at Wal-mart and with Sheriff’s deputies arrested 29-year-old Caleb Wood and 33-year-old Felicia Travise, both of Illinois.

However, while officers were speaking with the couple, Wood fled on foot and was able to evade apprehension.

Deputies gave chase until they lost Wood in the wooded area near the Sonic drive-through.

Shirley said while deputies were setting up a perimeter, Wood managed to steal a GMC Blazer from the Sonic parking lot.

Shirley said that while deputies pursued the vehicle South on Hwy 17, the Georgia State Patrol joined in the pursuit. The trooper was able to utilize the PIT maneuver to safely bring the pursuit to an end.

However, Shirley says that wasn’t enough to stop Wood, after getting out of the vehicle, he led law enforcement on a foot pursuit.

Eventually, Woods was apprehended by law enforcement and taken to the Stephens County Jail.

Wood was charged with 21 separate violations including felony theft by taking, entering an auto, bringing stolen property into the state, obstruction of law enforcement officers, fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, as well as a host of traffic violations.

He is currently being held on a $30,000 bond while the investigation continues.

Travise is also in the Stephens County Jail with a $24,000 bond.

She is charged with 11 different violations including theft, bringing stolen property into the state, obstruction of law enforcement officers, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Additional charges are also expected against the pair from the State of Florida.