Kellyton man arrested on 10 charges after fleeing police
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Johnnie Louis Smoot Jr.
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
A traffic stop led to a foot pursuit, which ultimately resulted in a Kellyton man facing 10 charges once law enforcement officers found him in Goodwater.
Chief Deputy Scott Hammond reported that on August 18, Deputy Brown was patrolling in the Goodwater community when he observed a vehicle without its headlights on.
Brown conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver and observed there were also two female passengers in the vehicle.
Brown could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, saw five rolled marijuana blunts in the vehicle, and also smelled an odor of alcohol coming from the driver. Deputy Kelley then arrived on the scene as backup.
The driver was detained in front of the vehicle, along with the two passengers, while deputies continued investigating and began conducting a search of the vehicle.
The driver, Johnnie Louis Smoot Jr., was placed in handcuffs, and while the deputy was writing citations, Smoot fled on foot and went into the tree line. Deputies attempted to locate him in the woods, but could not find him.
Hammond said that the deputies proceeded to finish their search of the vehicle and found numerous illegal items.
Deputy Payton also arrived on the scene to help search for Smoot. However, deputies were unable to locate him at that time, and the vehicle was towed.
The next morning, deputies were advised that Smoot was on Hotel Street in Goodwater. Deputy Kelley responded and located Smoot, whose handcuffs were dislodged and covered in Vaseline.
Smoot, 44 years old, of Kellyton, was ultimately arrested and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana, certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm, fourth-degree theft of property, third-degree criminal mischief, possession of drug paraphernalia, attempting to elude law enforcement officers, driving while suspended, failure to display insurance, no headlights at night, and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.
Smoot received no bond and remains in custody at the Coosa County Jail in Rockford awaiting trial.
