A Waynesboro man was recently arrested on multiple offenses following a pursuit by Lewis County officers. The following article appeared on August 17 in the Lewis County Herald:
“On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, Lewis County Deputy Michael Scott attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the Natchez Trace Parkway with a gray Dodge Ram 1500 going 72 miles per hour in a 50 mile per hour zone. When Deputy Scott turned around, the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed. Once he caught up with the vehicle, he initiated his emergency lights, and the subject started to yield, then rapidly accelerated again.
“Shortly after, the suspect’s vehicle began to have mechanical issues, causing him to pull over. Justin Atkins, 34, of Waynesboro, exited out of the driver’s side front door of the truck and began running through the woods. Deputy Scott continued to pursue Atkins on foot and began giving him verbal commands to stop and get on the ground. Atkins complied, and was placed in handcuffs and was escorted to the patrol car.”
The article goes on to state that an inventory of Atkins’ vehicle revealed a bag on top of the dashboard that contained 29.6 grams of methamphetamine. A smaller bag containing an additional 2.2 grams of meth was found in the vehicle as well, along with drug paraphernalia including a glass pipe containing meth residue, a used syringe containing meth residue, and a number of small zip-lock plastic baggies.
The tag on the vehicle came back to a different vehicle, and Atkins’ driver’s license came back as revoked.
Atkins was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on charges of reckless driving, felony evading arrest, driving on revoked, misuse of registration, felony possession of meth with intent, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of resisting arrest.
