Pursuit leads to stand-off, ends with arrest
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Pursuit leads to stand-off, ends with arrest
Special to the News
A pursuit through three counties ultimately ended in a stand-off in Montgomery, which eventually led to the arrest of a Georgia man.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division attempted to stop a Chevrolet Cruz for speeding at approximately 9:07 p.m. Tuesday, August 10, on Interstate 85 in Macon County.
The driver of the Cruz; later identified as Joshua Wesley Sweatman, 29, of Georgia; refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit came to an end once Sweatman struck a guardrail and a light pole at the intersection of Interstate 85 and the Eastern Bypass in Montgomery, near exit 6, leaving the vehicle disabled.
Sweatman then barricaded himself inside the vehicle and refused to negotiate with officers. Special agents with ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), ALEA SWAT, the Crisis Negotiations Team, and Aviation also responded to the scene.
After an hour-long stand-off with officers, Sweatman was ultimately taken into custody. He was transported to a local area hospital for treatment as a result of minor injuries sustained while resisting arrest and for the belief that he was under the influence of narcotics.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle Sweatman was driving was stolen out of Coweta County, Georgia.
He faces multiple charges, including attempting to elude, resisting arrest, drug paraphernalia, first-degree receiving stolen property, and several traffic violations in Lee, Macon and Montgomery counties.
Nothing further is available as the investigation continues.