PIT maneuver ends vehicle pursuit; Alto man faces multiple charges

Photo: Habersham County Sheriff's Office/Rob Moore

An Alto man is facing numerous charges in Habersham County after deputies say he led law enforcement on a vehicle pursuit Thursday afternoon, March 19.

Zachary Magowan, 32, has been charged with driving under the influence, two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude, too fast for conditions, failure to obey a stop sign, two counts of reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, unsafe vehicle or equipment, improper passing in a no passing zone, and hit and run/failure to stop and render aid.

According to authorities, at approximately 12:45 p.m., White County 911 dispatchers notified Habersham County E-911 that a Flock camera had identified a 2012 Honda Civic that had been involved in an earlier pursuit with the White County Sheriff’s Office and Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was reportedly traveling into Hall County.

Habersham County dispatchers issued a countywide lookout to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and local police departments. White County officials advised they had pending charges related to the earlier pursuit.

A Habersham County deputy later located the vehicle on the northbound off-ramp from Ga. 365 to Ga. 385 and attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the bridge over Ga. 365. The driver refused to stop and continued into Demorest, turning left onto Cap Fry Road.

Deputies conducted an initial PIT maneuver on Cap Fry Road, but the vehicle was able to continue fleeing. The driver then turned right onto Cannon Bridge Road (Ga. 105).

A second PIT maneuver was successfully executed near Living Faith Lane on Cannon Bridge Road, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and come to rest in an embankment with one rear wheel off the ground.

Authorities said the driver refused commands to exit the vehicle and was removed by deputies and taken into custody at the scene.

The deputy first encountered the vehicle at 12:54 p.m. The pursuit began at 12:55 p.m. and ended safely at approximately 1 p.m.

Magowan was transported to the Habersham County Detention Center in Clarkesville. Officials reported no damage to Habersham County Sheriff’s Office vehicles.