Fox54 posted the dash board of Officer Mark Gatlin's police car. He says he suspected a DUI
when he saw the Gold Pontiac Bonneville in the video weaving on Highway 23.
Police say Gatlin attempted to pull the car over - but the driver did not stop.
"You can
pursue a vehicle up to five miles outside of the city," said Sardis Police Chief Gary Jones. "Certainly, a forcible
felony would be of greater distance."
The chase ended
on Glisson Road; a dirt road off Creek Road in Girard. Police say the driver
lost control of the car and smashed into a tree. Emergency response teams say
the driver, Antonio Brigham, 36,and his passenger, Harold
Hilton, 66, died from blunt force trauma; taking nearly an hour to extract the two
men with the Jaws of Life.
On Glisson Road, a memorial wreath was left in memory of the two men, who family
members say were neighbors and good friends.
"He will be
missed," said Chantel Dixon, she and Brigham have three children together. "I can honestly say he will be missed."
Chief Gary Jones
says he gave Officer Gatlin two days administrative leave after the crash. Hey
says Gatlin followed procedure when chasing a suspect: contacting Burke County
dispatch, citing where and which direction the officer was chasing the car;
describing the vehicle and how fast it was traveling. Offering condolences to
the families, he says the incident could have been prevented.
"If there's
anything I could say to people who are listening to this: when you see blue
lights behind you, PULL OVER," Chief Jones said.
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