Thomas Pickle
Two men who authorities say were taking a load of meth to Tunnel Hill have been arrested after a high-speed chase. One of the men struck a state trooper in the face at the end of the incident Wednesday afternoon.
The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit received information that Thomas Pickle, Jr. from LaFayette was distributing methamphetamine in the Whitfield County-North Georgia area. The Narcotics Unit obtained information that Pickle would be delivering a large amount of methamphetamine in Tunnel Hill.
The sheriff’s office and the Georgia State Patrol were conducting surveillance in the area around 4:30 p.m. and observed Pickle in the passenger seat of a Toyota pickup truck. The truck was being driven by a man later identified as James Sexton. As officers attempted to stop the truck, they fled at a high rate of speed. Officers chased the vehicle on Highway 201 from Tunnel Hill to Varnell. Pickle was observed throwing items out of the window during the chase.
The Georgia State Patrol performed the PIT maneuver on the suspect vehicle in Varnell to end the chase. Pickle then struck one of the State Patrol officers in the face as they attempted to arrest him. Both men were taken into custody at that time.
The items Pickle threw out the window during the chase were recovered. They included approximately ¼ pound of methamphetamine and several different types of prescription pills. Recovered from the suspects were $ 1,436 in cash and scales.
Pickle, 38, was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of diazepam, alprazolam and phendimetrazine tartrate. He is also charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer.
Sexton, 49, of Chattanooga, is also charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of diazepam, alprazolam and phendimetrazine tartrate. Sexton is also charged with numerous traffic violations that occurred during the chase.
James Sexton