South Carolina drug investigation leads to car chase

On Behalf of | Aug 13, 2014 | Drug Charges |

Pickens County sheriff’s deputies say that they were investigating reported drug activity in the area of Fish Trap Road on the evening of Aug. 7 when a car fled the area after spotting the deputies. The deputies gave chase across county lines, pursuing the vehicle on U.S. 123 towards Greenville. Though the chase reached speeds of approximately 65 mph, the vehicle eventually began to break down and ultimately came to a stop on South Washington Avenue at approximately 10 p.m.

After the vehicle came to a halt, the driver and passenger attempted to flee the scene on foot. Deputies were able to catch the driver, a 56-year-old man, but were unable to stop the 43-year-old female passenger from escaping. Deputies claim to have discovered meth in a purse along with a pair of firearms that were flung from the vehicle during the chase. The vehicle had allegedly been stolen.

The driver has been charged with numerous crimes, including failure to stop for blue lights, disregarding a stop light, unlawful use of another vehicle license plate, driving under suspension, unlawful possession of a firearm, auto theft and possession of stolen property. According to the Pickens County Chief Deputy, the investigation is ongoing, and charges will likely be filed against the passenger as well.

In a case similar to this one, a criminal defense lawyer might argue that a purse containing methamphetamine and firearms allegedly thrown from a car could not be proven to have belonged to a driver. Unless deputies stopped in the midst of a chase to pick items up, it might be difficult to prove that the items were the same ones that were thrown from a vehicle.

Source: FOX Carolina, “Deputies: Meth, guns found after 2-county chase ends in Greenville”, Joseph Pereira, Cody Alcorn, and Casey Vaughn, August 08, 2014

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