Friday morning, state troopers and deputies in Jeff Davis County arrested three Coffee County residents after one of the suspects had fled the Bacon County Hospital the previous night.
According to the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office, early Friday morning, Jeff Davis officials received a be on the lookout from Bacon County regarding a Coffee County man that left the hospital in Alma in connection to a drug trafficking investigation. Officers stated he may be hiding in Jeff Davis County.
At approximately 11 a.m., troopers from the Georgia State Patrol noticed a vehicle matching the description of the car from the previous night near the Alma Highway and Ira Graham Road in Jeff Davis County. Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle but it failed to yield and sped up to elude the trooper.
Jeff Davis deputies arrived to assist the troopers. The driver, identified as James Clinton Thomas (pictured), slowed the vehicle down and pulled off the shoulder and exited to run on foot. One man was immediately apprehended and officers caught the other suspect a short time later in a foot chase. The third passenger, a female, was detained at the vehicle.
During the incident, Thomas allegedly tried to discard something by throwing it in the woods as he was being arrested. Investigators were able to recover the item, which was a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine. Thomas was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and possession of drug-related objects.
The passenger, Jimmy Lydell Thomas, bailed on foot but was apprehended and was transported to the Coffee County Jail for his outstanding warrants and will later face drug related charges in Bacon County.
Madisen Tolleson stayed in the vehicle and was charged with one count of possession of drug-related objects.