A man who led Lowndes County and Columbus law enforcement officers on a wild, hazardous chase was arrested Thursday afternoon.
The chase began near New Hope and ended when authorities arrested Jonathan Beeler, 25, at his home at 715 11th St. N. in Columbus.
Beeler is in Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office custody facing charges of felony eluding in a motor vehicle and at least four counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, Chief Deputy Marc Miley said. He may face other charges.
Preliminary reports say the chase began early Thursday afternoon when Beeler, driving a black Audi, passed a deputy on Highway 69 heading north, crossing a double yellow line and going about 100 mph. The deputy attempted to pull Beeler over, but he kept going.
Miley said Beeler turned around in a patch of grass off Williamson Road and began driving south down Highway 69 toward the Alabama state line when another deputy joined the pursuit. The deputy laid spike strips on the road to stop the Audi, but Beeler dodged them and turned into First Colony subdivision. He eventually turned onto New Hope Road and drove toward Highway 82.
The chase continued for about 20 minutes, eventually reaching Columbus where Columbus police officers joined in, Miley said. During the pursuit, the Audi wove in and out of traffic, drove the wrong way on one-way streets, and ran several vehicles off the road and sideswiped others, including a patrol car. At one point, Beeler attempted to hit an LCSO vehicle near the intersection of Alabama Street and Lehmberg Road.
When Beeler finally stopped the car at his home, he did not resist arrest.
Authorities do not know why Beeler attempted to flee law enforcement.
Beeler’s bond has not been set.
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