Multi-agency pursuit ends in arrest

The Houston County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched around 9:44 a.m. Thursday to assist the Fort Valley Police Department in a pursuit.

According to Fort Valley Police Chief Lawrence Spurgeon, one of his officers with the Fort Valley Police Department tried to conduct a traffic stop on one Cornelius Bass, who was traveling at a speed of 73 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone along Highway 96.

Chief Spurgeon explained that when the officer attempted to pull Bass over, he did not stop and Fort Valley police gave pursuit. The officer backed off when he began to approach Interstate 75. Spurgeon said they called in units from Byron Police Department, Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Peach County Sheriff’s Office and Perry Police Department to help assist.

Captain Mike Stokes, of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, noted that Bass was pursued by law enforcement into the Royal Oaks subdivision in Kathleen. Stokes said that Bass exited his vehicle and fled on foot on Paradise Court, and entered the woods.

Georgia Department of Corrections Officer Ben Taylor was called in with his K9 that tracked Bass across a creek to the Church Subdivision, and then Bass returned to the woods, where he was apprehended and taken into custody around 10:30 a.m. Houston County Sheriff’s Office remained on scene at the Royal Oaks Subdivision Thursday morning because they were informed that Bass had a weapon, and may have dropped it during the pursuit.

Spurgeon stated that Bass is being held in Fort Valley and will face charges of speeding, fleeing and attempting to allude, talking on his cell phone while driving and running a red light.

HHJ News