A Gainesville man remains in the Hall County Jail following a late-night chase with law enforcement on Friday.
Hall County Sheriff's Office spokesman Derreck Booth said deputies first saw the vehicle being driven by Jose Luis Oblea, 19, around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 28. He said Oblea was speeding on John W. Morrow, Jr. Parkway in Gainesville.
"A deputy pulled out behind the car and activated the patrol vehicle’s emergency equipment," Booth said in an email statement. "The car driver failed to pull over for a traffic stop, and the deputy began a pursuit."
Booth said during the pursuit along Candler Highway onto GA 124, Oblea violated a number of traffic laws
"The suspect driver pulled into a business driveway at the intersection of Ga 124 and GA 11/Winder Highway in Jackson County," Booth said. "Deputies were able to prevent the car from leaving by blocking its path with their patrol vehicles. The two Sheriff’s Office vehicles sustained minor damage from the suspect ramming them with his car while it was pinned in."
At that point, Oblea was arrested. In addition to being charged with more than a dozen traffic offenses [see list at the end of the article], Oblea was charged with obstruction of an officer and misdemeanor marijuana possession. He was also charged with second-degree cruelty to children because he had a 17-year-old girl in the vehicle with him.
Booth said officers with the Jefferson Police Department assisted with the arrest.
No one was injured during the incident.
Oblea faces traffic citations related to the following:
- Driving on a suspended license
- Driving within a gore
- Driving on the wrong side of roadway
- DUI drugs
- Failure to maintain lane
- Failure to signal
- Failure to stop at a stop sign
- Failure to yield to vehicle turning left
- Fleeing and attempting to elude
- Improper left turn
- Passing on a double-yellow line
- Running a red light
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Tires – No rubber/metal tires (front tire worn down to wear bars)
