A Hampton man has been arrested after allegedly getting into a police chase in a stolen SUV in Hall County on Thanksgiving Day.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) reports that 30-year-old Raphel Isiah Collins was traveling on Interstate 985 northbound near the Friendship Road exit going approximately 106-mph.
“The SUV passed the deputy who was sitting there stationary as the driver passed,” HCSO spokesman Derreck Booth said.
That deputy clocked Collins in a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe without tags at around 9 a.m. The SUV was reportedly stolen form Fulton County. At the time, Collins was reportedly weaving in and out of traffic and overtaking vehicles in the emergency lane.
The deputy began to pursue, catching up with Collins around the Spout Springs Road exit.
“The driver … refused to stop and continued traveling north. The deputy at the time observed that the vehicle didn’t have a tag displayed,” Booth said. “The driver got off the interstate at Exit 14, which is H.F. Reed Industrial Parkway, and when he came off the interstate he hit a curb, and it deflated one of the front tires.”
Collins got back on the interstate, exiting at Exit 16/Mundy Mill Road, running a red light and hitting another curb. The SUV came to a stop, and Collins reportedly got out and ran on foot.
The deputy and the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) finally caught up to Collins in the 3400 block of Mundy Mill Road.
Collins was arrested, and deputies allegedly confiscated one gram of methamphetamine and less than one gram of fentanyl that was on him.
Collins was arrested on the following crimes:
- Fleeing/attempting to elude (felony)
- Theft by receiving (felony)
- Possession of fentanyl (felony)
- Possession of meth (felony)
- Obstruction of an officer (misdemeanor)
It is important to note the theft by receiving distinction — as opposed to theft by taking — implies Collins did not partake in the theft of the SUV, but had knowledge it was stolen.
When asked about the origin of the Santa Fe, Booth said it was Fulton County’s case, not theirs.
Collins also received the following traffic citations:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Brake lights and turn signal required
- Failure to maintain lane
- Driving in emergency lane
- Disobeying traffic control devices
- No metal tire contact on roadways
- Duty upon striking fixture
- Changing lanes/slowing or stopping/signals required
- Display of license plates
GSP also cited Collins for several traffic-related offenses.
Collins was booked into the Hall County Jail where he’s being held on $18,430 bond.
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