Authorities have arrested a man who led Lavonia police on a high-speed chase Thursday and then ran from officers again early Friday morning.
The initial pursuit began around 3:04 p.m. on July 24 when a Lavonia officer attempted to stop an SUV on Georgia Highway 17 near Exit 173 for a taillight violation. Police say the driver, later identified as Caleb Key, refused to stop and sped off, reaching speeds over 90 miles per hour.
During the chase, officers observed Key tossing a plastic bag out the window. He exited I-85 at Exit 177 into Hart County and turned onto Providence Church Road, where he pulled off the road and fled into a wooded area. Inside the SUV, officers found two juveniles left behind. Fortunately, neither child was injured.
Officers from Lavonia PD, the Hart County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit, and Georgia State Patrol searched the area but were unable to locate Key at that time.
Capture
Just hours later, around 1:58 a.m. on Friday, July 25, Lavonia officers responded to a report of a suspicious man looking into windows at the Quality Inn on Jones Street. An officer arrived and spotted a man matching Key’s description. When Key saw the marked patrol car, police say he ran into the woods behind the nearby LongHorn Steakhouse.
The officer gave chase and found Key in a wooded area. Despite repeated commands to stop, Key refused to comply, prompting the officer to deploy his Taser to subdue and arrest him, according to the police department. Neither Key nor the officer was injured during the arrest.
Charges
Key was taken to the Franklin County Jail, where he is awaiting a bond hearing. He now faces multiple charges from both incidents:
Charges from July 24:
- fleeing or attempting to elude
- speeding
- tail light violation
- cruelty to children – 2nd degree (2 counts)
- obstruction of a law enforcement officer
Charges from July 25:
- obstruction of a law enforcement officer
- loitering and prowling
Anyone with additional information about these incidents is asked to call Lavonia Police at 706-356-4848.
