A woman trying to evade a safety checkpoint in Register Thursday ran four stop signs during a short chase through the streets of the tiny town. Two small children were in the vehicle, along with an assortment of drugs and a loaded gun.

Elizabeth Bessie Blalock, 33, of Highway 169 in Claxton, admitted to being under the influence of marijuana and methamphetamine, said Register Police Lt. Terry Kile.

One of Blalock's two small children in the car with her told officers Blalock had a gun, and a search reveled a loaded .380 pistol as well as drugs and paraphernalia, he said.

Register police set up a safety checkpoint at the intersection of Cypress Lake Road and Foster Road, and around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Lt. Kile saw a black Chevy Tahoe try to evade the checkpoint. A pursuit of the vehicle led officers through several residential streets in the area, and the driver, Blalock, ran four stop signs during the brief chase, he said.

Blalock stopped at the intersection of Main Street and Highway 46, where Lt. Kile ordered her to exit the vehicle and step to the rear of the Tahoe.

After placing her under arrest, Lt. Kile and Chief Tom Kile found "suspected methamphetamine in a clear plastic baggie, a marijuana pipe, razor blade, several straws containing suspected meth, a loaded .380 handgun, and three different types of controlled substances," Lt. Kile said.

After Lt. Kile placed handcuffs on Blalock, one of her two children, ages 3 and 5, told the officers why their mother had the gun.

"The driver's child advised Chief Kile and myself that her mom had a gun so she could shoot bad policemen," Lt. Kile said. The children were turned over to their grandmother's custody.

After being taken to the Bulloch County Jail, Blalock was read her rights but "waived them" and admitted to using methamphetamine and marijuana, he said.

She is charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, DUI, possession of a drug-related object, DUI/child endangerment, expired registration, fleeing/attempt to elude and possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, according to jail records.

Blalock is being held in the Bulloch County Jail as she awaits further court hearings.

Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.