ALBANY, GA --
UPDATE (3/6/13 8:15 AM):
On 03/05/2013 at 2:29 p.m., Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy attempted to pull over a black in color Cadillac for a traffic violation at the intersection of U.S. Highway 19 South and Forrester Parkway.
The suspected offender, Alexander Merritt, refused to pull over and accelerated speed. Roderick McCoy was the passenger in the vehicle.
The chase went from U.S. Highway 19 South and Forrester Parkway to Forrester Parkway and Old Leesburg Road. The suspects turned southbound on Old Leesburg Road and travelled all the way into Albany on Jefferson Street. The deputy realizing that the suspects were driving reckless called off the pursuit, but was able to maintain visual contact with the vehicle.
Albany Police Department was notified of the pursuit and arrived in the area to assist. The suspect vehicle turned westbound onto 8th Avenue and then southbound onto North Monroe Street. The two suspects then abandoned the vehicle on 8th Avenue and ran on foot westbound in the 7th Avenue alley towards Palmyra Road.
The suspects were apprehended by the Albany Police Department and the Albany/Dougherty Drug Unit at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Palmyra Road. An inventory of the vehicle was made and a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was discovered in the vehicle. The tag that was on the vehicle came back registered to a Lexus. Both suspects were arrested without incident and transported to the Lee County Jail.
With the assistance of the Albany Police Department, Albany/Dougherty Drug Unit, Albany Gang Task Force, Albany K-9 Unit, Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Corrections K-9 Unit, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office S.T.E.P. Unit; we were all able to work together as one team and apprehend these two suspects.
Alexander S. Merritt is a black male, 24-years old, 6'00", weighs 240 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes and lives in Albany, GA. Merrit is charged with attempting to elude, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, reckless driving, obstructed tag, improper transfer of tag, driving while unlicensed and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.
Roderick T. McCoy is a black male, 30-years old, 5'05", weighs 130 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and lives in Albany, GA. McCoy is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
ORIGINAL STORY (3/5/13):
Multiple agencies helped to end a high speed chase that went from Highway 19 south in Lee County to North Monroe in Albany.
Lee County authorities say they tried to initiate a traffic stop on a two door Cadillac when it fled and the chase began.
With the assistance of multiple agencies, authorities were able to apprehend the driver and passenger after they fled on foot towards Seventh Avenue.
Two black males are in police custody and a small amount of marijuana was recovered from the vehicle.
Charges are pending in this case.
Stay connected to MySouthWestGA.com as stories develop and the FOX 31 Newscast at 10 PM. Visit us on Facebook and Twitter to join in on the conversation and connect with FOX 31!