On Wednesday, September 29, deputies with Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office responded to I-16 within Emanuel County to assist Georgia State Patrol and Treutlen County Sheriff’s Office with the pursuit of a black BMW that began in Laurens County.
Upon the offender’s arrival into Emanuel County, the vehicle eventually made contact with spike strips set in place by ECSO deputies. However, the high speed chase continued on into Candler County, concluding at mile marker 97.
As a GSP trooper was exiting his car to approach the offender’s vehicle, it was reported that the offender also exited his vehicle and jumped into a trooper’s unit on scene and was armed.
Attempts to prevent the suspect from fleeing in the trooper’s unit were made, with a GSP trooper shooting out one front and one rear tire of the unit. Despite the tire’s being blown out, the offender continued revving the engine and attempting to escape in which a trooper shot at the patrol unit’s engine in attempt to disable the vehicle.
With much smoke hazing the view of law enforcement, the offender was able to escape from the passenger side window of the unit and ran up an embankment to elude law enforcement, leaving behind a woman who was found in the backseat of the involved BMW. Law enforcement gave chase but lost contact with the subject. Additional units responded to assist in the search, including tactical teams, canine teams, helicopters, search drones and other resources.
The following morning, September 30, Candler County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a suspicious person. Candler County deputies and GSP responded to the call and came into contact with the suspect, Anthony McQuarters, age 28.
According to a press release made by the Candler County Sheriff’s Office, multiple weapons were recovered during the arrest of McQuarters, who had been the confirmed driver from the high speed chase that occurred the prior night.
