Car chase ends in arrests
By Dwight Otwell Editor

A car chase in Cherokee County ended on August 22 with a man and woman being charged in connection with stolen weapons. The truck was also stolen.

According to a report by Cherokee County Sheriff's Lt. Joe Wood, Deputy Danny Millsaps reported that he spotted a red Chevrolet pickup truck on Hwy. 19/129 near the Georgia state line that matched the description of a stolen vehicle. It was about 5:17 p.m. North Carolina State Patrol Trooper Hal Robertson passed the vehicle near Hedden Road and turned and gave chase.

Wood saw the vehicle approach. He attempted to pull the truck over. The vehicle went through the parking lot of the Ranger Convenience Store at the corner of U.S. Hwy. 64 West and Hwy. 19/129. Wood used his public address system and ordered the driver to stop. The driver ignored the command and left the parking lot back onto Hwy. 19/129 traveling south. Detective Dwayne Anders approached from the opposite direction and the suspect vehicle slowed and lawmen were able to get the truck stopped.

As lawmen secured the driver, Stacy Massey Johnson, a handgun fell to the ground outside of the vehicle along with a bottle of beer, Wood said. The handgun was a Rossi brand .357 caliber revolver and was loaded. Upon searching the vehicle, a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber handgun was located under the seat that the passenger, Jack Edward Henderson, was occupying. Several rounds of ammunition was located in the car.

"I then asked driver, Stacy Johnson, why she had a gun. She said 'He was scared and handed it to me'," Wood said.

Wood ran the numbers on both firearms and they came back stolen out of Georgia. The truck also came back stolen out of Georgia.

Both suspects had previous felony convictions out of Georgia, Wood said. Both suspects were taken to the Cherokee County jail.

On August 23, Wood met with Johnson, and she told him she and Henderson came across the truck in Jasper, GA a week before. She said that the keys were in the ignition and she and Henderson took the vehicle and traveled straight to the Union County, Georgia area.

Johnson, 48, of Dallas, GA, was charged with possession of stolen vehicle, possession of stolen firearm, possession of firearm by felon, reckless driving, attempt to flee, attempt to flee on highway, driving while consuming alcoholic beverage, transporting alcoholic beverage after consuming, open alcoholic beverage in passenger area, DWI (.12) and resist of delay.

Henderson, 44, of Blairsville, GA, was charged with possession of firearm by felon and possession of stolen firearm.