​Chase Leads to Stolen Vehicle Recovery

The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
 
On Thursday May 11, 2017, around 4:30 AM, a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to McDonald Road in reference to a suspicious person and damage to property. Apparently a man had driven through a yard and gotten stuck and asked the home owner to park the vehicle there. The home owner told the man to leave and called 911.
 
Sheriff Davis said when the deputy arrived he was unable to locate anyone but did discover where the yard was torn up and a section of chain link fence had been torn down. Given the proximity to Towns County, GA, the deputy thought it might have had something to do with a chase Towns County had been in this same night. They chased a red in color Corvette for unknown reason but had not been able to stop it.
 
Shortly after 6:00 AM, the same deputy observed red in color Corvette on Tusquittee Road. The Corvette had front end damage, so the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle to investigate. The vehicle was stopped at Tusquitte Tavern, but pulled away when the deputy approached. The vehicle then went to the Cold Branch Church and stopped again, but sped away once more when the deputy approached. The deputy followed the vehicle down Cold Branch Road at slow speeds, where it turned up CJ Lane. The vehicle again attempted to get away by driving through yards and cutting through a field but was eventually blocked in by other responding deputies.
 
Sheriff Davis said it turned out that the Corvette was stolen out of Lakeland, GA. The driver, Shane Rashford, 22 of Valdosta, GA, was arrested and charged with Felony Flee to Elude Arrest, Felony Possession of Stolen Goods, DWI and Reckless Driving to Endanger. He is currently being held in the Clay County Detention Center under a $45,000 bond. Rashford has an extensive criminal history including time in prison.

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