A car chase through the west side of Statesboro Thursday morning ended in a crash as Bulloch County Sheriff’s deputies stopped an aggravated assault suspect from Jenkins County.
Everardo Rodriguez, 20, address unavailable, was taken to East Georgia Regional Medical Center, having been ejected from a white Chevrolet van after a deputy performed a PIT maneuver (precision immobilization technique). The technique was used after Rodriquez failed to stop, said Bulloch County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jared Akins.
Rodriguez was taken to East Georgia Regional Medical Center, and later transported to a hospital in Augusta, where he remains in custody of the Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office, he said.
Catherine Sapp, Special Agent-in-charge of the Statesboro office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, said in a statement released Thursday evening that her agency became involved after Jenkins County Sheriff Robert Oglesby contacted the GBI early Thursday morning regarding Rodriguez’ involvement in the aggravated assault.After the crash, Bulloch County Sheriff’s Inv. Walter Deal notified the GBI of Rodriguez’ apprehension.
Oglesby was not available for comment Thursday.
Akins said deputies spotted the van Thursday morning after a lookout was posted by the Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office regarding Rodriguez being a suspect in the early-morning stabbing of Lazaro Lucas Perez, 28, address unavailable.
Perez “had been assaulted with a weapon, suspected of being a knife,” Sapp said. He was “air lifted from the scene, in critical condition.”
The aggravated assault occurred in a wooded area off Grape Vine Road in Jenkins County, she said.
Akins said deputies spotted the 2002 Chevrolet van near Lakeview Road, and patrol deputies, joined by members of the Statesboro-Bulloch County Crime Suppression Team, gave chase when the driver failed to stop. The pursuit ended on Hwy. 80 near Hopulikeit, when the van rolled over after the PIT maneuver, he said.
“Pending Rodriguez’s release from the hospital, he could be facing charges for traffic violations and aggravated assault,” Sapp said. “The investigation is in its preliminary stages. The GBI is asking anyone with information to please contact them at (912) 871-1121 or the Jenkins County Sheriff’s Department at (478) 982-4211.”
Georgia State Patrol Post 45 troopers responded to the scene and documented the crash, according to GSP spokesperson Ginger Bragg.
Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.