The Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Altha man suspected of stealing a trailer today after a pursuit through Southport into Bayou George.
The Lynn Haven Police Department issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) for a small red truck pulled a red enclosed trailer when the trailer was reported stolen. A BCSO patrol deputy in Southport spotted the truck and trailer on Highway 77 as it slowed to turn off at a convenience store. As the deputy pulled in behind the truck, the driver sped up and fled north on Highway 77.
The pursuit continued when the driver turned right onto Highway 388. Near 388 and Blue Springs Road, two other BCSO deputies put out a spike strip to stop the driver but he drove down into a ditch and evaded the strip. The pursuit continued northbound on Blue Springs Road and then to Gainer Road and finally on to Highway 20.
The three deputies continued to follow as the driver fled down dirt roads off Highway 20. As the red truck got closer to Silver Lake Road and Deep Springs Road, one of the deputies attempted to pass him to get ahead and block any other traffic using the intersection at which time the driver of the red truck side-swiped the deputy’s car. The deputy was uninjured.
Deputies followed the driver onto Deep Springs Road at which time the stolen red trailer detached from the truck and flipped over. Shortly after, a P.I.T. Maneuver was executed on the red truck, causing it to wreck. Deputies took Joseph D. Spence, age 36, of Altha, into custody. EMS responded and he was checked medically and found to be uninjured and taken to the Bay County Jail. Spence was charged with Fleeing and Attempted Eluding and Felony Habitual Driving with License Suspended and Revoked. Spence also had an outstanding warrant on him for Violation of Probation for Driving With License Suspended or Revoked (felony).