Report: Alabama teen led deputies on chase that hit 144 mph. He ran, but deputies got him.
Published 8:54 am Monday, February 24, 2020
An Alabama teenager was arrested Sunday after sheriff’s deputies clocked his Ford Mustang doing well over 100 mph. As they pursued him, he sped up and the chase eventually hit a top speed of 144 mph, deputies reported.
The chase began when deputies first spotted the car traveling at 105 mph just before 1 a.m. Sunday. As deputies began pursuit, the driver fled, deputies reported, running traffic lights, passing in no-passing zones and even turning off his headlights in an attempt to avoid capture.
Deputies report that at one point the Mustang reached a speed of 144 mph during the chase.
Morgan County Sheriff’s Office deputies eventually got the car stopped when the driver saw deputies ahead of him with spike strips deployed in the road.
Deputies arrested Gavin Tyler Shields, 18, of Hartselle, Alabama, at Reeves Peach Farm. His arrest photo shows the teen was wearing a T-shirt with Nike’s slogan “Just do it” all over the shirt.
Shields was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment along with multiple traffic citations, deputies report.
He was arrested and taken to the Morgan County Jail. The other occupants of the vehicle were released to their parents.