POSTED: Thursday, January 6, 2011 - 11:26pm
UPDATED: Friday, January 7, 2011 - 1:46pm
TYLER - What seemed to be a normal traffic stop turned into a high speed chase leading authorities all over Cherokee and Smith counties.
Police tell us 21-year-old Justin Toole of Whitehouse was behind the wheel. Police say a woman was in the car with him pleading for him to pull over. After Toole wrecked the car he ran, leaving his injured friend in the passenger seat.
She was taken to a local hospital and treated for her injuries during the crash.
Afterwards, Toole came across Edwin Northcutt's truck in Troup. After the joyride Toole finally crashed his second vehicle in a pasture in Cherokee County.
Soon after the crash Toole ran again this time with a chopper on his tail. Police finally caught up with Toole and is now behind bars in Cherokee County.
So far no bail is set.
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UPDATE 4:07 P.M. - New information from KETK crews in Cherokee County...
Officials say right after the Ford Focus crash, the male driver took off. His female passenger was taken to the hospital. The man then reportedly stole a blue Dodge Ram with keys inside the vehicle.
Choppers later spotted the man, and officials took him into custody. There is no word yet what his name or charges are.
Constables say the chase began on Hwy. 79 and finally ended at County Road 4702.
Officials have not yet said what the relationship is between the man and woman, or the extent of her injuries.
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UPDATE 3:20 P.M. - KETK crews are following this unfolding case, and say the original chase in the gold Ford Focus ended when the driver wrecked that car.
Details are sketchy, but there are reports that after the wreck, one or more of the suspects stole a truck, took it to a wooded area and ran into the woods before being taken into custody.
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UPDATE 2:02 P.M. - A second suspect is now in custody.
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UPDATE: 1:43 P.M. - Officials on the scene say there were two suspects, one is in custody.
The chase began with a routine traffic stop, but the suspects fled in a gold Ford Focus.
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UPDATE 1:25 P.M. - Officials with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department say law enforcement may be chasing two suspects. They are not sure if anyone has been arrested yet.
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UPDATE 1:05 P.M. - Deputies have surrounded a wooded area near Troup, east of Highway 110.
Law enforcement has a helicopter in the air searching for the suspect.
KETK is on the scene and will bring more details as they become available.
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UPDATE 12:35 P.M. - Cherokee County has also asked Smith County Sheriff's Office and Smith County DPS to assist in the chase.
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UPDATE 12:25 P.M.: TROUP- Cherokee County officials say the chase is happening in or near the city of Troup.
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CHEROKEE COUNTY- Cherokee County officials confirm they are chasing at least one suspect.
Troup police are assisting in the chase.
KETK has a crew headed to the county and will bring you more information as it becomes available.