Chase suspects charged in Lee County

LEESBURG, Ga. &#8212 Two suspects who fled the scene from Lee County to Albany Tuesday have been charged with multiple offenses, Lee County Sheriff’s Office officials say.

MOBILE USERS: Click here to see a video of their arrest from Tuesday.

After a high-speed chase by Lee County Sheriff’s deputies, the suspects were apprehended by officers of the Albany Police Department on 7th Avenue in Albany, said Louis Harris, chief deputy with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Harris, Alexander S. Merritt, 24, an Albany resident, was driving the car. Merritt has been charged with: Attempting to elude, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, reckless driving, obstructed tag, improper transfer of tag, driving while unlicensed and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.

Roderick T. McCoy, 30, also from Albany, was the sole passenger in the car. McCoy has been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to officials.

Harris said the suspects were transported from the scene to the Lee County Jail. According to Harris, charges may be pending from Dougherty County.

By Harris’s description, the high-speed chase began Tuesday at 2:29 p.m. when a deputy of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a black Cadillac for a traffic violation at U.S. Highway 19 South and Forrester Parkway. The driver then accelerated the vehicle and fled southbound on Old Leesburg Road to Jefferson Street in Albany. Realizing the suspects were driving recklessly, the deputy abandoned hot pursuit but was able to maintain visual contact with the suspect vehicle. The Albany Police Department was notified of the situation and joined in pursuit.

The suspects eventually abandoned the vehicle on 8th Avenue in Albany and fled on foot westbound in the 7th Avenue alley toward Palmyra Road. They were apprehended by the APD at 8th Avenue and Palmyra Road, Harris said.

A green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was discovered in the Cadillac, Harris said. According to officials, a field test for the substance, which weighed less than one ounce, was applied on the scene and indicated positive for marijuana.

Harris said that multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the chase and apprehension of the suspects, including the APD, the Albany/Dougherty Drug Unit, the Albany Gang Task Force, Albany K-9 Unit, Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Corrections K-9 Unit and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office S.T.E.P. Unit.