Undercover Operation

Nets Unexpected Arrest

An already tense situation became even more complicated when a local man fled from authorities during an undercover operation in Vidalia last week.

John Egbar, Deputy Commander of the Southeast Regional Task Force in Macon, said members of the task force came to Vidalia Wednesday, January 26, in search of a suspect wanted in connection with an assault on a police officer in Candler County. Investigators tracked the suspect to Vidalia and received information that he was in a particular vehicle.

When U.S. marshals and members of the Vidalia Police continued from page

Department, who were asked to assist in the case, stopped the vehicle in question, the two occupants of the car attempted to flee.

After a short pursuit, officers apprehended one of the occupants while the second suspect escaped in the area of Georgia Tire on Smith Street and is still at large. As a precaution, J.D. Dickerson Elementary School was placed on lockdown as police searched for the fleeing suspect in the area of the school, said Vidalia Police chief James Jermon.

The VPD arrested the subject they had taken into custody after the traffic stop, Deante Canty, on an outstanding warrant for an active parole violation. His association with the Candler County case has not been determined and he is being held at the Toombs County Detention Center.

As police were attempting to establish a perimeter to conduct a search for the suspect who fled from the traffic stop involving Canty, another situation developed. Authorities observed a darkcolored Ford Explorer leaving the area of Madison and Second Streets at a high rate of speed. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle kept moving.

The pursuit ended when the fleeing vehicle wrecked on the eastern side of Handy Andy’s Warehouse on Broadfoot Street. The driver fled on foot with officers in pursuit, and was apprehended inside CVS Pharmacy.

Police later determined that the driver, Justin Spires, 30, of Vidalia, is not associated with the incident in which Canty was arrested; however, Spires is incarcerated in the Toombs County Detention Center and facing several charges.

Because he tried to evade the law, Spires is charged with fleeing, felony attempt to elude arrest, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, failure to obey stop or yield sign, no driver’s license, operating a vehicle while registration is suspended, and possession of marijuana.

Deante Canty