Multi-City High-Speed Chase

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A woman is now behind bars after leading Toombs County sheriff’s deputies and Vidalia and Lyons police officers on a highspeed chase through town after stealing a vehicle from the Toombs County Courthouse on Thursday, June 26.

Destany Gilchriest, 28, came to the Toombs County Courthouse on June 26 seeking help from authorities, and spoke with The Refuge Domestic Violence Shelter Advocate Rosa Morales, who evaluated the situation. Morales recognized that Gilchriest was suffering from mental health issues and contacted the Toombs-Montgomery EMS for assistance in evaluating the woman, but was unable to get further treatment for her because of Gilchriest’s refusal to be transported by ambulance.

A fter Gilchriest’s refusal, Morales stepped outside of her office to contact the Vidalia Police Department for further help with the case. While Morales was outside the office, Gilchriest searched Morales’s purse and took the keys to The Refuge’s van, which was parked in the courthouse parking lot.

Gilchriest became very agitated and began to attempt to leave the courthouse, as Morales asked for deputies’ help in keeping the woman at the location. Because there was no evidence of a crime or any further issues, deputies could not hold Gilchriest within the building, and she soon left. continued from page

Upon her departure, Morales realized that Gilchriest was entering The Refuge’s vehicle, and deputies began to pursue her. They were unable to find her after having left the courthouse parking lot, but placed a BOLO for Gilchriest and the vehicle.

A Vidalia Police Officer witnessed Gilchriest turn right onto Harris Industrial Boulevard near the Memorial Health Meadows Hospital a few minutes later, and tried to initiate a traffic stop. Gilchriest refused to stop and led the officer on a high-speed chase down U.S. Highway 292 towards Lyons. She collided with another work van at the intersection of North Broad Street and North State Street in Lyons, but continued to drive, as the van was damaged but not inoperable. Soon after this collision, Lyons Police Officers were able to stop Gilchriest and take her into custody near the intersection of North East Broad Street and Georgia Highway 152.

The Georgia State Patrol investigated the collision between the vans and provided an official report of the accident to the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office. Both drivers had minor injuries.

Gilchriest was booked into the Toombs County Detention Center and now faces charges – felony theft by taking and a few traffic infractions — from Toombs County, the city of Vidalia, and the city of Lyons. The investigation is still currently active.

After capturing Gilchriest, authorities discovered that she had an outstanding warrant for felony probation violation. She remains in jail at this time.