GSP Forces Suzuki GSXR to Crash to End Pursuit

On March 3rd, 2022, at approximately 0346hrs., I was traveling south on I-75 when Troop A
Communications notified Cpl. Hobbs of a vehicle pursuit. Bartow County S.O. units had been in pursuit
of a motorcycle and were now in Gordon County, approaching the Whitfield County line and requesting
assistance from GSP. I checked the CAD and saw that Cpl. Hobbs was on I-75 but on the north end of
Catoosa County. I was currently in Gordon County but had not seen the pursuit yet. I exited I-75 at the
320 ramp and turned to get back on the northbound side.
As I crossed over I-75, I observed a single headlight traveling at a high rate of speed and was being
pursued by several marked police cars with their emergency lights and sirens activated. I got back onto
I-75 northbound and attempted to catch up with the pursuit. Tpr. Weaver was also trying to catch up
with the pursuit and came up behind me. I moved over to allow Tpr. Weaver to move up and take over
the pursuit. Once he did this, I remained as a secondary. My vehicle is an unmarked but fully equipped
emergency vehicle, and I had my emergency lights and siren activated. The motorcycle continued to attempt to flee, driving at a high rate of speed and changing lanes erratically. I remained secondary
until I noticed Tpr. Weaver’s vehicle begin to slow and drop back from the pursuit. As I passed him, he
advised that his vehicle had lost power. I assumed the primary position in the pursuit at the 329-mile
marker and advised Troop A Communications. Cpl. Hobbs was still several miles ahead and had set up
at the 336 northbound ramp to I-75. As I was following the motorcycle, I could see that the driver was
having difficulty controlling the vehicle at the higher speeds, and it started to “wobble .”At about the 332
mile marker, I was able to get in front of the motorcycle. I attempted to slow the motorcycle down by
blocking it with my vehicle so that I could try to channel the vehicle onto the shoulder. Still, the driver
avoided this attempt, drove around my vehicle, and accelerated away. I caught back up at the 333-mile
marker and passed the motorcycle, and again attempted to block and slow the vehicle, but again, as
we slowed, he was able to drive around me and accelerate away. After this attempt, A Bartow County
patrol car with its emergency equipment activated passed me for a few moments. It was the primary
pursuer until I caught back up and took primary again. Once I was sure that the driver was not exiting
at the 336 exit, I advised Cpl. Hobbs to get onto the interstate. Before catching up to Cpl. Hobbs, I was
able to get in front of the motorcycle and slow the vehicle down enough that I attempted to channel the
motorcycle onto the left shoulder. The driver maneuvered behind me and was to pass me on the right
side and accelerate away. As the motorcycle caught up to Cpl. Hobbs at about the 338-mile marker.
Cpl. Hobbs began to attempt to block and slow the vehicle. I worked with Cpl. Hobbs attempts and
assisted in blocking the vehicle. The driver was able to drive around Cpl. Hobbs and accelerated away.
I advised Troop A Communications to notify Tennessee that the pursuit was coming. Both Cpl. Hobbs
and I attempted another blocking maneuver at about the 340-mile marker. We were able to slow the
vehicle, and I moved ahead. I slowed down to the point that I thought that the motorcycle had stopped.
Cpl. Hobbs advised that there was contact between his vehicle and the motorcycle but that the
motorcycle was still mobile and attempting to elude. I began to accelerate as the motorcycle passed me
at a high rate of speed. Cpl. Hobbs passed me still in the primary position. As we approached the 342-
mile marker, I saw that the motorcycle slowed, and Cpl. Hobbs was well ahead of the vehicle. As we
caught up to Cpl. Hobbs, we attempted to block the vehicle, but he cut between us and accelerated
away. I caught back up to the motorcycle and again passed him, again attempting to block him and
slow him down to channel. The motorcycle slowed down enough that I attempted to channel the
motorcycle onto the right shoulder, but the vehicle accelerated away again, passing me. Cpl. Hobbs
also passed me. The Catoosa County S.O. deputies had set up at the 348-mile marker exit and
standing by to assist. As the pursuit approached the 348 exit, the driver suddenly maneuvered and got
off the interstate at this exit with Cpl. Hobbs as primary and I as secondary. As the motorcycle got to
the top of the ramp and attempted to cross over Hwy. 151, the driver traveled too fast, lost control of
the vehicle, and crashed. The driver was taken into custody without further incident. The driver was
complaining of an injury to his back, and medical aid was summoned. Deputies from Catoosa County,
Ringgold P.D., and Bartow County S.O. all arrived at the scene.