Chase leads deputies to Alabama

By By Erin Hilsabeck / staff writer
June 16, 2004
A routine traffic stop in Lauderdale County turned into a 45-minute car chase into Alabama at 2:30 a.m. today.
Lauderdale County Sheriff's Deputy Philip Frazier stopped Nicholas Johnson, 24, in downtown Meridian. Johnson, 2201 42nd St., fled and ended up on Interstate 20/59 headed toward Alabama.
Two sheriff's deputies followed Johnson into Greene County, Ala., where they caught him after driving about 70 miles, said Maj. Ward Calhoun with the sheriff's department.
Johnson was placed in the Lauderdale County Jail on a bond of $4,195. He was charged with 22 offenses, including a DUI refusal, three counts of reckless driving and eight counts of total disregard for traffic devices.