A Dawsonville man who was wanted in multiple area counties was arrested Thursday evening after a vehicle pursuit through Habersham and Stephens counties.
The Georgia State Patrol identified that suspect as Dakota Meister, 29, of Dawsonville.
The Habersham County Sheriff's Office said the pursuit started at about 10:15 p.m. Thursday. That's when a Habersham County Sheriff's Deputy attempted to stop Meister's Yamaha YZF600 motorcycle on Ga. 365 southbound at Double Bridge Road near Demorest.
The motorcycle eventually turned and began traveling at "very high rates of speed" on Ga. 365 northbound. Meister turned right onto Hulsey Road and made his way onto Ayersville Road near Hazel Grove Elementary School.
Two Habersham County Sheriff's Office Patrol vehicles were damaged during separate incidents during that chase on Ayersville Road. The Georgia State Patrol said in one, a patrol vehicle traveled off the road, hit a tree and overturned onto its driver's side. That deputy had minor injuries. In the second incident, a patrol vehicle traveled off the road and hit a traffic sign. No injuries were reported.
Meister continued to flee, making his way onto Talmadge Drive where he entered Stephens County. Habersham County units called off their pursuit when the motorcycle crossed Ga. 365 at the Jeanette Jamieson Intersection, but Stephens County Deputies continued the pursuit on Dick's Hill Parkway. Those deputies eventually lost contact with the motorcycle.
"Stephens County deputies and the Georgia State Patrol located the motorcycle off Ben Loudermilk Road and after a manhunt with K-9 units and a drone took [Meister] into custody without further incident," a press release from the Habersham County Sheriff's Office said.
Meister was arrested and taken to the Stephens County Jail. He is facing charges from Habersham County, Stephens County and the Georgia State Patrol following Thursday's incident. He also has outstanding warrants in three other counties.
