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Name:
Cruz, Lyric Lanika
Date of Booking:
08/15/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Failure To Obey Stop Sign or Yield After Stopping
Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device
Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device
Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device
Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer for a Felony Offense
Driving while License Suspended or Revoked – 1st Offense
Theft by Taking – F – Motor Vehicle
Agg Assault
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
[NARRATIVE #1 on August 14, 2026]
I responded to the area of hwy 193 and hwy 341 in reference to a stolen vehicle. The victim advised that the suspect had come to purchase the vehicle and before paying for the vehicle the suspect drove away in the victim’s vehicle. The victim followed the suspect and gave location updates to dispatch. I located the vehicle driving north on hwy 193 in the area of the south end of Chattanooga Valley Rd.
I activated my emergency equipment and attempted to stop the vehicle, which the vehicle initially came to a stop but as I opened my car door, the vehicle turned left to drive around me. I turned my vehicle right to attempt to block southbound vehicles and pedestrian traffic to prevent the suspect from striking innocent motorist and as the suspect drove north in the southbound lane the suspect swerved to the right and into the front end of my vehicle and continued north on hwy 193. I advised Walker 911 that my vehicle had been struck and that I was in pursuit. In the area of hwy 193 and S Burnt Mill Rd, Deputy Ferguson advised that he was joining the pursuit and took over relaying information to Walker 911.
While pursuing the vehicle on hwy 193, I saw the suspect hold their cell phone out of the window and appeared to be recording me chasing them. The vehicle turned right onto hwy 2 from hwy 193 and then ran the red light while turning left onto Happy Valley Rd from hwy 2. The vehicle then turned left onto Wilson Rd and Deputy Fouts advised that he was setting up spike strips at Wilson Rd at James St. When the vehicle approached the spikes, it came almost to a stop and was able to drive around the strips turning right onto James St.
The vehicle then failed to stop at the stop sign at James St and Happy Valley Rd and continued east on James St. The vehicle then failed to stop at the red light at James St and Mcfarland while turning left. The vehicle passed several vehicles in the center turn lane while driving north on Mcfarland Ave and then failed to stop at the red light at Mcfarland and East Lake Rd. The vehicle then continued north on Mcfarland into Tennessee. Cpl Hegwood had advised to continue chasing the vehicle into Tennessee due to the suspect striking my patrol vehicle and the vehicle being stolen.
I continued to pursue the vehicle into Tennessee while waiting for Hamilton County to take over the pursuit. While pursuing the vehicle on Dodds Ave the vehicle slowed nearly to a stop again in the area of 43rd St. I attempted to pull around to the left side of the vehicle to stop it and the vehicle suddenly turned left. I attempted to swerve to the right around the vehicle but I struck the rear left bumper of the vehicle. The vehicle continued on 43rd Street and then turned right onto Rossville Blvd. The vehicle took several other side streets and then turned on to E 23rd St. At that time, Hamilton County SO entered the pursuit and took over as primary.
I continued following Hamilton County and the vehicle turned onto Holtzclaw Ave. The vehicle then turned left onto Rossville Blvd and Hamilton County SO performed a pit maneuver which brought the vehicle to a stop in area of the I-24 exit ramp. The suspect then exited the vehicle but refused to comply with verbal commands and began walking away. At that time, Hamilton County tazed the suspect who then struck the Hamilton County Deputy with her purse and started running away. Hamilton County tazed the suspect again and the suspect was taken into custody.
EMS was notified and upon arrival, the suspect requested to go to the hospital and was escorted by a Hamilton County Deputy. I advised Hamilton County Deputies that we would be applying for warrants for the offenses which occurred in GA. The vehicle was towed by Delaneys and the victim was advised.
Warrants will be applied for on next date.
[End of Narrative]
[NARRATIVE #2 on August 15, 2026]
On 08/15/2026, I was dispatched to the Walker County Sheriff’s office to serve a warrant.
Upon arrival, I met with the listed suspect and served the following warrants: W24050159 (failure to stop at stop sign, misdemeanor), W24050158 (failure to obey traffic control device, misdemeanor), W24050157 (fleeing or attempting to elude police officer), W24050156 (driving while license suspended), W24050155 (theft by taking motor vehicle, felony), and W24050154 (aggravated assault, felony).
The warrants were served without incident.
[End of Narrative]