During the morning hours of Sunday, August 30, Emanuel County 911 dispatched officers with Swainsboro Police Department to 409 West Moring Street, Apartment 3, in reference to a domestic disturbance in progress. As officers were in route to the location, 911 advised that an involved subject was attempting to leave the scene in a newer model, white Chevrolet Malibu.
The driver of the involved car was successful in leaving the scene but later made contact with a responding officer at the intersection of Tyson Street and West Moring Street. As the officer gained on the involved Chevrolet car, the offending driver increased speed in an attempt to elude the officer. Patrol lights were then activated on the officer’s vehicle as the announcement of a chase in progress was made via radio.
The driver of the Malibu continued to flee from said location toward the intersection of Highway 56 South and U.S. Highway 1, reaching speeds of approximately 80 miles per hour. The chase then continued onto U.S. Highway 1 North toward the intersection of U.S. Highway 80 West, then progressed from Highway 80 West back east toward the Swainsboro city limits at speeds of 15 to 30 miles per hour due sustained damage to the front wheel on the driver's side. The chase ended once the driver parked the car at the address of 144 McMillan Drive. The offending driver, Tracy Delaine Kirkland, 40, was then apprehended without further incident and transported to the Emanuel County Jail, where she was placed on hold, pending charges for fleeing and attempting to elude police and probation/state court/Middle Georgia Probation violations.
During Kirkland’s arrest, officers located $16,250 in cash money on Kirkland’s person. The involved car was recovered and impounded at the city shop in Swainsboro.
The following day, August 31, a detective with the Swainsboro Police Department was advised of the incident and the details involved. Having knowledge of Kirkland’s past criminal history and also having received recent informational leads of Kirkland's alleged fraud involvement, further investigation revealed that Kirkland had obtained fraudulent funding through unemployment and the Small Business Association.
Stating that she had faced hardship as a hair and nail salon owner operating out of her McMillan Drive home address, it was confirmed that Kirkland had received SBA relief funding in the amount of $66,440 for a salon that was nonexistent. Kirkland now faces additional charges of theft by deception, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and drug charges of opium or derivative sale/deliver. She could potentially face other charges as the investigation continues.
Additional law enforcement agencies have since assisted Swainsboro Police Department. More information will be released as provided by the Swainsboro Police Department.
