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Name:
Poole, Bennie Lee
Date of Booking:
05/08/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
SPEEDING IN EXCESS OF MAXIMUM LIMITS
SPEEDING IN EXCESS OF MAXIMUM LIMITS
SPEEDING IN EXCESS OF MAXIMUM LIMITS
SPEEDING IN EXCESS OF MAXIMUM LIMITS
FAILURE TO OBEY STOP SIGN
RECKLESS DRIVING
IMPROPER PASSING ON LEFT
FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE POLICE OFFICER
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHEN ENGAGED ON OFFICIAL DUTY (FELONY)
OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHEN ENGAGED ON OFFICIAL DUTY WHICH RESULTS IN SERIOUS PHYSIC
FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE POLICE OFFICER
SPEEDING IN EXCESS OF MAXIMUM LIMITS
PASSING IN NO-PASSING ZONE
GIVING WRONG SIGNAL
PASSING IN NO-PASSING ZONE
POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE
POSSESSION OF COCAINE WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE
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.]
I, Lieutenant Ben Perdue was on patrol when I overheard radio traffic associated with deputies asking for assistance.
I was in my patrol car on Kaolin Road when I heard a report of a vehicle travelling towards Sandersville on the Fall Line Freeway. It was reported that the vehicle; a red Dodge Charger was driving recklessly when it struck 2 vehicles in a collision. The collision was minor, but the red Dodge Charger continued without stopping. It was reported the vehicle was on Highway 24 West travelling towards Sandersville. A few moments later Sergeant Sanders with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported that he had obtained the tag number and relayed the tag.
Sergeant Sanders stated the subject may be travelling towards Grand Street in Sandersville. I overheard Deputy Rozier patrolling the area. A few moments later Deputy Rozer stated he located the vehicle parked behind a residence. Deputy Rozier requested assistance, so Sandersville police officer Ranquez Johnson responded. I decided to respond and assist as well.
I was in route I came upon the railroad crossing at Kaolin Road and Beck Blvd. I observed the arms down. I noted the arms could be malfunctioning after sitting for several minutes. I heard the chain of events began to escalate as I was sitting there. As the events began escalating, I overheard Deputy Rozier state the subject was back in the vehicle and was fleeing from law enforcement. Deputy Rozier and Sandersville Police Officer Johnson gave chase.
I turned my vehicle around as I could not cross the road crossing and travelled down Saffold Road towards the Fall Line Freeway. It was reported that the vehicle travelled down Kinney Street. Then on to West Haines Street. Then to the Fall Line Freeway. Then it made a right hand turn on the Fall Line Freeway. I was able to get to the Fall Line Freeway and began to catch up. The vehicle a lefthand turn onto Linton Road. I was able to catch up to Deputy Rozier on Linton Road near Bay Springs Road.
I passed Rozier and got behind SPD Officer Johnson who was directly behind this suspect’s vehicle. I observed the suspect vehicle travelling between 85 and 110 mph on Linton Road. The vehicle was failing to maintain its lane. The driver was at times travelling completely into the oncoming lane. The vehicle is driving extremely recklessly. He was driving at speeds 30 to 45 mph above the posted speed limit. The vehicle was travelling into turns in oncoming lane.
Based on the totality of the circumstances, I believe the subject was going to cause a collision and must be stopped therefore innocent bystanders could be hurt. I made the decision to terminate the pursuit by a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT). I decided to try and attempt a PIT on Linton Road near Webster Road as there is a straight away with a field on both sides of the roadway.
I passed Officer Johnson and got directly behind the suspect vehicle. I closed in on the vehicle to make sure the driver knew I needed him to pull over. We continued down Linton Road and approached the field. As we cleared the tree line, I attempted a PIT. I made contact with the driver side rear and attempted to turn into the vehicle, causing the rear end to spin around. However, the vehicle did not rotate but my front tires lost traction. I then disengaged contact with the vehicle and backed off. I decided to attempt again when the roadway was safe. We traveled past Webster Road and up towards Pine Needle Road.
Sergeant Sanders stated he believed the driver to be Benny Poole and he used to live on Keg Creek Lane. If the driver was going to Keg Creek Lane, then he would be making a left hand turn shortly on to Pleasant Grove Road. I decided to attempt a pit at Pleasant Grove Road. As vehicles would naturally have to slow down. We entered a straight away and I was able to see a good distance. I attempted to PIT again.
As I closed in on the driver’s side of the vehicle, the driver cut me off travelling into the oncoming lane. I then swung around and attempted the PIT on the passenger side. I made contact with the vehicle, broke the rear tires loose and caused it to spin. However, the vehicle did not spin completely out, and the driver was able to counter steer the vehicle straightened to back up.
The vehicle then made a left-hand turn onto Pleasant Grove Road. I again attempted a PIT as the vehicle made its turn. Making contact with the driver side rear bumper and pushing the vehicle over 90° towards the east. The vehicle rotated and travelled into the ditch after successfully causing the vehicle to leave the roadway, I turned around and closed in on the front of the vehicle preventing it from escaping. Officer Johnson pulled in behind the vehicle, and we successfully boxed it in.
The driver of the vehicle slowly exited the vehicle. While exiting my vehicle I drew my service pistol and pointed it at Benny Poole. Poole complied with commands and got on the ground. He was successfully handcuffed. We secured the scene and made sure no other occupants were in the car. I attempted to talk to the driver later, identified as Benny Poole, but he was nonverbal. We were able to put the subject in the back seat of Johnson’s patrol vehicle. Other deputies arrived and Investigator Michael Clay arrived on scene. Sergeant Sanders also arrived on scene.
Officer Johnson began searching the front passenger side of the vehicle. He located two containers that appeared to be supplement type pill bottles. Inside the pill bottles were a bag of green leafy substance containing another smaller bag of a white powder-like substance. These two items were taken into evidence as they appeared to be marijuana and a cocaine type substance. The evidence was turned over to Investigator Kennedy with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Watkins Towing was requested to come out and tow Poole’s vehicle. The Georgia State patrol was requested to work the collision between Poole’s and my vehicle. The Georgia State patrol collision report numbers are as follows, [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Poole was charged with failure to maintain lane, passing in a no passing zone X2, speeding over 100 mph in a 55 mile per hour zone and fleeing and attempting to elude felony.
[End of Narrative]