According to Sheriff Jeff Shaver recently Narcotics Investigators Chatman and Garrett were patrolling close to the Watson’s Crossroads area, when they observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation.
They conducted a simple traffic stop, and as they exited their vehicle and approached the suspect that vehicle suddenly accelerated and initiated a pursuit. During the chase, the occupants began throwing items out of the vehicle. The pursuit continued into Menlo, Georgia onto Highway 157, and it then crossed over into Walker County, Georgia – Georgia State Patrol Officers, then took over control of the chase, which eventually ended, and Georgia authorities took the driver, Waylon Dale Epps (age 43 of Gaylesville) and a passenger, Ashley Sheree Spivey (age 34 from Armuchee, Georgia), into custody.
Subsequently those discarded items were recovered and confirmed to be illegal narcotics.
Epps was arrested in Georgia on charges of Felony Fleeing, Trafficking of Drugs, Drug Possession, Possession of Drug Related Objects, Failure to Maintain Lane, Speeding, Reckless Driving, Aggressive Driving, Failure to Stop at Stop Sign, Driving Under the Influence, No Insurance, an Expired Tag, an Open Container, Failure to Register the Vehicle – and License not on Person. Additionally, Epps has active warrants through the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for Failure to Appear/Unlawful Breaking and Entering of a Vehicle (Felony) two counts – Failure to Appear/Theft of Property 2nd (Felony) – and also – with Failure to Appear/the Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Spivey was arrested in Georgia – for charges including Trafficking Drugs, Drug Possession, the Possession of Drug Related Objects, and Tampering with Evidence, Obstruction, Littering, and Open Container.
Epps will remain in custody in Georgia pending extradition related to the pursuit and outstanding warrants.
Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver, extends his gratitude to the Office of the Georgia State Patrol for assistance in apprehending the suspects.